The Legacy of Racially Restrictive Covenants in Upper Arlington, Ohio

Authors

Alicia G. Howe, University of LouisvilleFollow

Program/Event

n/a

Abstract

Racially restrictive covenants were written into property deeds in the early 1900s as a method of preventing people of color from moving into white communities. Although such covenants were deemed unenforceable by the Supreme Court in 1948, the practice of racially restricting homeownership has not ended in communities where such covenants were previously used. This paper utilizes Upper Arlington, Ohio as a case study for how white communities have maintained their identities into the present day. This includes discussion of the Northwest Arlington Association, local real estate practices, the projected racial attitudes of longstanding white residents, and the community’s treatment of people of color. The paper also preliminarily explores how these practices affect the lives of the community's nonwhite residents and their sense of belonging in the community. Further exploration into Upper Arlington’s real estate industry is recommended.

Recommended Citation

Howe, Alicia G. (2023) "The Legacy of Racially Restrictive Covenants in Upper Arlington, Ohio," The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 1: Iss. 3, Article 6.
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol1/iss3/6