A History of Discriminatory Practices in Wake County
A house is one of the largest purchases most Americans make. It’s a safe, stable place to call home, as well as an important way to build wealth. However, not all families in America have had equitable access to homeownership due to racial discrimination in housing.
Historical housing policies created racial disparities in homeownership that still persist today. Although no longer legal, these practices shape our communities and they are reflected in the current makeup of our neighborhoods.
In the early 1900s, discriminatory policies were actively enforced and Raleigh grew into an intentionally-segregated city. While white families moved into well-connected neighborhoods north and west of downtown, Black families were explicitly prevented from moving into those areas of high opportunity. Redlining (a form of discriminatory lending) classified Black applicants as “high-risk borrowers” based solely on race and where they lived, and denied their loan applications, or gave them unfavorable loan terms.
White homeowners signed agreements, or restrictive covenants, that prohibited them from selling their homes to Black families. Black renters and homeowners were largely confined to areas southeast of downtown Raleigh, in neighborhoods with less access to well-funded schools, local businesses, transit and more.
Digging Deeper into Discriminatory Practices
Restrictive covenants are property deeds that were historically used to prohibit particular groups, typically Black buyers, from purchasing, leasing or occupying land or properties. In the early 20th century, these covenants were used as a tool of racial segregation, along with redlining.
Redlining, a process once backed by the U.S. Government, denied mortgages to predominantly Black homebuyers, preventing them from purchasing homes in certain areas or accessing loans to renovate their homes.
While restrictive covenants and redlining are now outlawed, our communities still see the impacts today. Housing patterns across the country illustrate the influence of these discriminatory practices.
Identified Covenant Areas in Wake County
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Book-Page |
Date |
Location |
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1946 |
Hillside Park, Fuquay Varina |
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1940 |
Sasser Homes Addition, Raleigh |
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1947 |
Anderson Heights, Raleigh |
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1947 |
Sunset Hills, Raleigh |
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1940 |
Longview Gardens, Raleigh |
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1948 |
Dennis Ave, Raleigh |
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1948 |
Belvedere Park, Raleigh |
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1946 |