HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 February Racial Covenant AwarenessCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PROCLAMATION
Racial Covenant Awareness and Action Day: February 13, 2025
Discriminatory covenants were used from the early 1900s to the 1960s to prevent people
of color and non-Christian individuals from buying or occupying property in certain
areas, including in the City of Columbia Heights. These covenants were part of a
deliberate system designed to promote residential segregation and perpetuate systemic
inequities in housing access.
These covenants not only limited where people of color and non-Christian individuals
could live but also fortified economic and social disparities by restricting access to
property ownership, wealth accumulation, and community resources. The harm caused
by these practices has left a lasting legacy, with effects still evident in property values,
mortgage eligibility, rental opportunities, and other aspects of community
development.
Federal policies further exacerbated these inequities. Properties with racial covenants
were classified as more desirable by the Federal Housing Administration and the
Homeowners' Loan Corporation, leading to more favorable mortgage rates and
increased public and private investment in predominantly white neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, neighborhoods without such covenants were neglected, compounding
divestment and marginalization.
Efforts by civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, challenged these practices,
leading to the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948, which
rendered racial covenants unenforceable. Subsequent legislative actions, such as
Minnesota's 1962 prohibition of these covenants and the 1968 Fair Housing Act, further
reinforced the illegality of these practices. Despite these advances, the effects of this
history remain ingrained in the social and economic fabric of communities across the
nation.
The Mapping Prejudice Project has played a critical role in uncovering and
documenting the extent of discriminatory covenants in the Twin Cities area, including
in Anoka County. By making this history visible, the project encourages communities to
confront the ongoing impacts of systemic racism and work toward solutions that
promote equity and justice.
The Just Deeds Project complements these efforts by providing free legal and title
services to help property owners identify and discharge discriminatory covenants from
property titles. This work is vital to fostering education, reconciliation, and the
dismantling of systemic barriers that have perpetuated inequality.
Citizens of Columbia Heights have the opportunity to engage in initiatives to address
this history, including learning about the impact of discriminatory covenants,
supporting policies that advance equity and inclusion, and taking action to create a
community where all residents can thrive.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Amdda Mdrquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, do hereby proclaim February 13, 2025 as Racial Covenant Awareness and
Action Day in Columbia Heights, and call upon all members of the community to join
in acknowledging this history and participating in efforts to advance racial equity and
inclusion.
5A Ida Mi4rquez Si u a, Mayor
January 27, 2025