FAQs and Resources

Racial covenants were created to keep people of color from moving into white neighborhoods. Covenants were located in housing deeds and stated who the house could be sold to. They emerged in the Twin Cities as early as 1910.

It is important to understand past injustices in order to work towards fixing current inequities. Housing covenants are no longer legally binding, but their effects still live with us today.

Many neighborhoods remain segregated today. Present day segregation is not a product of communities “naturally gravitating” towards each other. It is the result of planned exclusion from white neighborhoods for generations.

We’re glad you asked! You can get involved by filling out our contact form. You can also check out our list of upcoming events.

If you live in Hennepin County, you can search for your address on the “explore map” on the Mapping Prejudice website. When the Ramsey County map is complete, you will be able to search it as well. If you have your complete property deed, you can check there or you can request the property deed from the county.

We do not believe that racial covenants should be erased as this would remove the evidence of the historic racism in our community. There is a process that you can complete to discharge a racial covenant. Essentially, this adds language to your property deed noting that you disavow the covenant. The Just Deeds project can help with the process.