Racially Restrictive Covenants in Ypsilanti

Many neighborhoods, especially those with HOAs, have deeds with restrictive covenants that govern the use of the property. Such covenants may, e.g., specify a certain setback as an easement for public utilities, define what constitutes a forbidden nuisance to neighbors, or describe the types of structures that may (or may not) be built on or added to the property.

In 1926 the Supreme Court allowed the explicit use of racially restrictive covenants in land deeds. Subdivisions all over Southeastern Michigan (and elsewhere) wrote such covenants into their deeds, and Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti were no exception. One such example for Ypsilanti may be seen in the 1941 deed for the subdivision of College Heights, just north of Washtenaw and west of the EMU campus. Below is a map of the original development.

The deed to the property contains a number of restrictive covenants. One stipulates that the value of the house built upon a given piece of property must be from $4,000-$6,000 [$59,000 to $88,000 in today's dollars], with specific minimum values for certain sizes of lots. Another forbids all farm animals. One forbids the removal of any earth, sand, or gravel from any lot. The erection of any house, garage, fence, or wall had to be approved by the Subdivision Committee. Restriction #7 pertains to race:

The College Heights deed is dated 1941. Seven years later the Supreme Court in Shelley vs. Kraemer forbade racially restrictive covenants in land deeds. However, there were other means, both widespread and local, of segregating neighborhoods, such as redlining or denying home loans to black Ypsilanti residents. Both practices are related in oral histories of black residents collected by A. P. Marshall and stored in the Ypsilanti Archives.

Such aspects of Ypsilanti history as this restrictive covenant are painful to acknowledge. However, it is important to preserve and be aware of items like these for an honest portrayal of the past.

The Casual Racism of the Past

This advertising postcard likely was stacked on the counter of a Michigan hardware store in the past, just as ads and leaflets are stacked on the counter of your bank these days. It's quite unusual that this bit of historical ephemera was preserved.

The racist depiction of the black women speaks for itself, but it's interesting to note the details. You can see two wash basins in each kitchen, for washing and rinsing dishes. There are also what appear to be wood stoves in each kitchen.

Hard to date this item but I'd guess from the fonts used that it's around 1890 or so--but would be happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

The company name of "Acme White Lead and Color Works" suggests that there was lead in at least some of their paints--paints covering the wall of even the kids' room. People of a century ago lived amid an invisible throng of hazards and poisons--it boggles the mind at times.