Areas of New York State That May Have Been ‘Sundown Towns’
Historically, Blacks and Others Were Attacked If Seen in STs After Dark
Tougaloo College/History and Social Justice Website: A sundown town is not just a place where something racist happened. It is an entire community (or even county) that for decades was “all white” on purpose. “All white” is in quotes because some towns allowed one black family to remain when they drove out the rest. Also, institutionalized persons (in prisons, hospitals, colleges, etc.), live-in servants (in white households), and black or interracial children (in white households) do not violate the taboo.
“On purpose” does not require a formal ordinance. If, for example, a black family tried to move in, encountered considerable hostility, and left, that would qualify the town as “sundown.” Note that some sundown towns kept out Chinese Americans, Jews, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, even Mormons.
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Here are the areas in New York that may have operated as sundown towns.
* Not a suspected sundown town but of interest for other reasons.
Click here to check other states.
Wondering about Warsaw, NY? History there is documented as a location/birth place for women from the early phases of the womenʻs movement. But someone mentioned it may have been a sundown town. I canʻt find any information though.
HI, Mele.
Welcome to my news site. Thank you very much for taking the time to log on, review the post, and share your thoughts. I greatly appreciate it. If you’d like to find out if Warsaw (New York) may have been a sundown town, I suggest you contact their historical society, the local library, or the city clerk’s office. They all have archives that should provide you with information to make an informed decision. Let me know how it turns out, and you and your loved ones stay safe.
G-Man