Historical Shadows: The Link between Sundown Towns and Contemporary Racial Inequality

• In Event: 493 - Regular Session. How Do the Rich Get Richer?

Abstract

Discussions of black disadvantage often focus on the US South, yet historical research on “sundown towns” strongly suggests redirecting some of that attention to the non-South, particularly to places with small to non-existent black populations. In this project, I propose to address emerging questions related to how the historical presence of a sundown town could affect contemporary black-white economic inequality. Consistent with James Loewen’s historical research, I argue that the exclusionary practices of sundown towns created spaces that foster anti-black attitudes. In addition, the refusal of some places to accept a black population constrained the settlement of this group, particularly within the non-South, which could result in differential contemporary proximity to natural and economic resources for blacks and whites. As a result of these negative consequences for the black population currently residing in the counties associated with sundown towns, I expect a positive association between sundown history and black-white poverty inequality. I assess the impact of our sundown history using standard OLS and spatial data analysis techniques to provide a comprehensive assessment of its contribution to contemporary black economic disadvantage. I employ preexisting data on a sample of sundown towns in the eastern Midwest, and data from the 2008-2012 ACS estimates. This analysis will extend our understanding of the social impact of sundown towns, and advance new perspectives on the (re)production of black disadvantage in the United States.

Author

• Heather Avery O'Connell, University of Wisconsin-Madison