Sundown towns were a potential death sentence if you were black and seen after dark this went on for decades sundown towns were communities that posted signs warning black people to leave by nightfall some signs were blunt inward don't let the sun set on you here others hid behind coded language like whites only after dark this wasn't just the deep south sundown towns existed across the country eerie especially in the midwest and west police and white residents enforce these rules through intimidation violence and even lynching many of these towns kept black families out for generations using housing covenants harassment and unspoken threats long after the signs came down the hidden lesson is ray racism wasn't just about where black people couldn't go it was about controlling where they could live work and build wealth the legacy of sundown towns is still visible today in the racial makeup of thousands of american communities could follow for more black history hidden below the surface share believe inspire black sbe