‘Mapping Racist Covenants’ Project at The University of Arizona

This past week I attended the launch of the ‘Mapping Racist Covenants’ project, managed by the University of Arizona School of Geography, Development, & Environment and a number of community partners. The project’s aim is to create a digital space where Tucsonans can see the city’s history of racist covenants, mapped out by areas and subdivisions in town where people of color were once unable to live.

Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (known as CC&R’s) are legal guidelines that homeowner’s must adhere to in a particular subdivision or neighborhood. Starting in the early 1900’s, developers and homeowner’s associations began placing racist covenants on certain neighborhoods, making it so that some racial and ethnic groups were prevented from living there. Although these types of CC&R’s are no longer enforceable, the long term effects of racist covenants — along with redlining and other unfair lending practices — continue to impact communities of color today.

If you’re a homeowner in Tucson who has racist CC&R’s tied to your property, you can take part in this community-wide project by sending them in to The U of A’s geography department. For contact info and to find out how else you can get involved, go here.

Julia Van Valkenburg, REALTOR

OMNI Homes International

julia@buyselltucsonhomes.com

520-275-3514