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Restrictive Covenants, Racial Repair,

Reconciled Community
 


Racially Restrictive Covenants, written before the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, permeated neighborhood agreements and deeds of sale in Ozaukee County, included the explicit prevention of any race other than Caucasian from living on those properties. Bridge the Divide acknowledges that this "de jure" segregation carved out the suburbs, but we do not advocate erasing our history, no matter how painful and ugly. How can we heal from the past, denounce the hatred that accompanied such actions and set a path toward restoration and reconciliation?

HIGHLAND HOMES

 

"No race other than the Caucasian race shall use or occupy any building or any lot in said subdivision; however, this covenant shall not prevent the occupancy of domestic servants of a different race employed by an owner or tenant."                        NOVEMBER 1946

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ESCHRICH PARK

 

"No parcel in Eschrich Park shall...be rented to or occupied by any person or persons other than of the Caucasian race. This restriction shall not be construed against the employment of any person as chauffeur or servant."                            OCTOBER 1933

HI-CREST REALTY 

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"That at no time shall any part of the real estate herinbefore described, or any buildings thereon, be purchased, owned, leased or occupied by any other other [sic] than of the Caucasian Race. This prohibition is not intended to include domestic servants while employed by the owner or occupant of any land included in this declaration."                                   JANUARY 1938

SINGER'S LANDSCAPE ACRES

 

"No race or nationality other than those for whom the premises are intended shall use or occupy any building on any lot, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race or nationality employed by Owners or tenants."                                                 AUGUST 1938

VILLAGE HEIGHTS

 

"No race other than the Caucasian race shall use or occupy any building or any lot in said subdivision; however, this covenant shall not prevent the occupancy of domestic servants of a different race employed by an owner or tenant."         

                                JUNE 1948

TWINELM

TWIN-ELM

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"No person of any race other than the Caucasian race shall use or occupy any building lot, or building, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race domiciled with an owner or tenant.."                                                                  MARCH 1941

“Rather than removing racially restrictive covenants, he recommends modifying the deed instrument by adding a clause disavowing the covenant: We, [your name], owners of the property at [your address], acknowledge that this deed includes an unenforceable, unlawful, and morally repugnant clause excluding African Americans from this neighborhood. We repudiate this clause and are ashamed for our country that many once considered it acceptable, and state that we welcome with enthusiasm and without reservation neighbors of all races and ethnicities.”      – The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

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