In Minnesota, a nonprofit organization is working diligently to eliminate racial covenants from property deeds, a remnant of discriminatory housing practices that have contributed to significant racial disparities in homeownership. Despite the Fair Housing Act making such covenants illegal, thousands of homes still bear this outdated language, affecting the lives of many families.
Key Takeaways
- Minnesota has one of the largest racial homeownership gaps in the U.S., with 78% of white households owning homes compared to only 25% of Black households.
- The Mapping Prejudice Project has identified over 55,000 racial covenants in property deeds across Minnesota.
- The Just Deeds Coalition assists homeowners in discharging these covenants at no cost.
Understanding Racial Covenants
Racial covenants were clauses included in property deeds that explicitly prohibited people of color from owning or occupying homes in certain neighborhoods. These covenants were prevalent in the mid-20th century and have left a lasting impact on housing patterns and racial segregation.
Ellen Crichton, a Plymouth resident, recently discovered that her family home, built in 1949, contained a racial covenant. "I was flabbergasted that that was on the deed, I couldn’t believe it!" she expressed, highlighting the shock many homeowners feel upon learning about the hidden discriminatory language in their property records.
The Role of Mapping Prejudice Project
The Mapping Prejudice Project, led by Kirsten Delegard at the University of Minnesota, has been instrumental in uncovering these covenants. The project aims to raise awareness about the historical barriers to housing access for people of color and to inform homeowners about the existence of these covenants in their deeds.
"Housing is fundamental for every aspect of well-being," Delegard stated. She emphasized that understanding who had access to housing and the barriers faced by certain groups is crucial to addressing the disparities that persist today.
Just Deeds Coalition: A Path to Change
The Just Deeds Coalition, comprising attorneys, realtors, and city officials, provides free legal assistance to homeowners seeking to discharge racial covenants. Maria Cisneros, a city attorney and member of the coalition, shared her experience of removing a covenant from her own home, stating, "One of the best things to come out of discharging a covenant is that you have added to the historical record."
The coalition has successfully discharged over 1,000 covenants, allowing homeowners to disavow the racist language while preserving the historical context of their properties.
Moving Forward
As the Mapping Prejudice Project continues its work, it encourages homeowners to check their property deeds for racial covenants. The project aims not only to eliminate these discriminatory clauses but also to foster a more inclusive understanding of Minnesota’s housing history.
For many families, like the Crichtons, learning about the racial covenant in their home has been a wake-up call. "I wouldn’t want that on my conscience," Ellen Crichton remarked, reflecting on the importance of addressing this dark chapter in housing history.
By raising awareness and providing resources, nonprofits like the Mapping Prejudice Project and the Just Deeds Coalition are taking significant steps toward rectifying historical injustices in Minnesota’s housing landscape.
Sources
- Nonprofit works to eliminate racial covenants on Minnesota houses | kare11.com, kare11.com.
- – YouTube, YouTube · KARE 11.
