An event hosted by the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission

Let's celebrate the 76th anniversary of one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions for civil rights! On May 3, 1948, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that individuals could no longer use the courts to keep people of color from living in neighborhoods because of their race. Previously, phrases in property deeds, known as racial covenants, could be added to target people of color, and the courts would enforce them. A deed with a racial covenant is known as a racially restrictive deed. Black people were usually the target of these racial covenants, though many of them declared that only Caucasian people could purchase, mortgage, lease, or occupy the property. 

Learn about the Shelley family and the landmark Supreme Court case, Shelley v Kraemer (1948), that made it so individuals could no longer sue others in court to keep people of color from living in their neighborhoods. Learn how this 76-year-old case affected homeowners here in Robbinsdale, in Minneapolis, and across the nation.

Children aren't left out! We have an activity booklet on the topic provided by Free the Deeds, a collaborative art project, and some supervised play time in the park. 

Light refreshments will be provided.

• Just Deeds
  • Learn about Just Deeds as an organization and about racially restrictive deeds: what they are, why they exist, why we should renounce them, and how to renounce them. We will have lawyers and a notary available to help for free, and yard signs are available for those who renounce the racially restrictive deeds of their property.
• Free the Deeds (Longfellow Community Council)
  • Admire Free the Deed's artwork and poetry created by artists inspired by renouncing racially restrictive deeds and the freedom from them. Longfellow Neighborhood was the first neighborhood in Minneapolis to have racially restrictive deeds, and the Longfellow Community Council has worked for years to help people renounce them.
• Mapping Prejudice
  • View Mapping Prejudice maps of racially restrictive deeded properties and how they were used to keep people of color segregated into less desirable parts of the Twin Cities. This was especially pronounced along the border between Robbinsdale and North Minneapolis, and near places like 35W.
• Robbinsdale Historical Society
  • Our Robbinsdale Historical Society always provides a wealth of interesting knowledge on Robbinsdale's past. Learn more about the wealthy Sanborn family, who lived in Crystal but owned a large tract of land in what is now Robbinsdale. Learn when Sanborn Park was created, why the park was named after them, and how it was recently discovered that the Sanborn family added racially restrictive deeds to many properties in Robbinsdale, especially around Sanborn Park.
• Professor Raj Sethuraju (Metro State professor)
  • Does talking about systemic racism make you uncomfortable? You're not alone! Professor Raj Sethuraju will lead restorative circle trainings, where people can share their perspectives and better understand how to talk about racism.

Looking forward: 

After learning about how the Sanborn family added racially restrictive deeds to parcels of land, review Robbinsdale's new park naming policy that was started by the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the City Council and the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Commission. Learn about the improvements planned for the park, and add your input on what the new name should be!

In 2020, Hennepin County declared that "Racism is a Public Health Crisis" to reduce health disparities in communities of color. Inspired by this declaration and the resulting equity work, the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission has been working on a Robbinsdale version of "Racism is a Public Health Crisis," and would like to introduce it to the public and gather feedback.