Feb 27, 2025 Story by: Editor
The Dane County Board took a significant step toward addressing the history of racial discrimination in homeownership by passing 2024 RES-305 on Thursday night. The resolution acknowledges the impact of racially restrictive covenants and the broader legacy of housing discrimination in Dane County.
These covenants, which barred individuals from purchasing property based on race, were declared unenforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 and later banned under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Most recently, Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 210 on March 22, 2024, officially voiding and rendering such discriminatory clauses unenforceable.
“These racist covenants are a powerful reminder of how systemic racism deliberately obstructed homeownership for Black people and other underrepresented communities,” said Chair Patrick Miles in a statement. “Facing and understanding this ugly chapter in our history is essential for dismantling those legacies.”
Racial covenants—also known as discriminatory covenants—were clauses included in property deeds that prohibited the purchase, rental, or occupancy of a residence based on race and other protected categories. These restrictions were widespread throughout the 20th century and were used to keep non-whites, non-Christians, and other minority groups from owning property in America’s expanding suburbs and residential areas.
Supervisor Chad Kemp emphasized the importance of learning from history to prevent a recurrence of discriminatory practices. “In light of today’s federal landscape, it is vital that we learn from our history to prevent backsliding,” Kemp stated. “Today, whether residents realize it or not, many affluent neighborhoods in Dane County still have these discriminatory covenants on their deeds. It is essential that we do everything that we can to remove discriminatory and antiquated language so that we are actually living the values that we hold true.”
As part of the initiative, the county invited Own It: Building Black Wealth—a private sector network of Madison-area professionals in real estate, banking, and finance—to accept the resolution at the board meeting. The organization’s mission is to promote Black homeownership and increase generational wealth in Black communities.
“Racial covenants played a significant role in perpetuating the racial wealth gap,” said Tiffany Malone, co-founder of Own It: Building Black Wealth. “We can only overcome systemic racism and barriers to current homeownership if we first study this past and understand how it shows up today.”
Ahead of the county board meeting, the Dane County Historical Society showcased the History of Racial Covenants exhibit at the City-County Building. Meanwhile, Dane County Planning and Development has collaborated with various organizations to research, document, and present information about racially restrictive covenants in the area.
Todd Violante, director of the Dane County Planning & Development Department, highlighted the importance of these efforts. “By collecting and sharing this data, we’re helping to inform the community about the lasting impacts of housing discrimination here in Dane County, establishing a basis for education and action,” he stated. “Our department is proud to be part of this collaborative effort.”
Source: Madison 365
