White after Dark, MFA Thesis Project, by Blake Thresher
The same basic sequence of events occurred in many towns throughout the country between 1890-1940. A Black resident was accused of a crime. Panic spread among the White residents of the town. Finally, the White residents drove the Black residents out of the town. In many cases, this was a violent process, often leading to the burning down of Black homes or the lynching of the accused. The White residents were seldom held accountable for their crimes. After expelling the Black community, the town passed ordinances, hung signs, and threatened violence to keep their town all-White. These communities became known as Sundown Towns. While most of these towns no longer enforce these practices, many remain all-White to this day. The history of such towns is often hidden and obscured.
