Do Sundown Towns Still Exist in Michigan Today?

I was scrolling through TikTok when I saw a video that grabbed my attention and had me shaking my head.

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In the video, a woman claimed that Michigan has many “Sundown Towns”.

What Is A Sundown Town

Wikipedia describes Sundown Towns as all-white municipalities or neighborhoods in the United States that practice a form of racial segregation by excluding non-whites via some combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation or violence.

They were most prevalent before the 1950s.

The term came into use because of signs that directed “colored people” to leave town by sundown.

I first heard about Sundown Towns when I was a young kid.

My mom who worked as a nurse at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor explained to me that several of her non-white coworkers were afraid to come out to our house in Howell because they were worried something bad might happen when they went home later that night.

While I don’t think of Howell as that kind of town it does have an unfortunate connection to the KKK.

A former leader of the hate group lived nearby in Cohoctah Township.

I remember coming home from shopping with my mom and driving by the courthouse.

Several Klan members were standing outside the courthouse, spewing hate.

That situation was unfortunate, but I don’t feel like it properly reflects my hometown.

Sundown Towns In Michigan

So does Michigan have Sundown Towns?

If so, which ones are they?

@real_taemoney Replying to @rainellcarr Wheeww chile, seems like Michigan ain't safe #michigan #sundowntown #blacktiktok #sundown #learnontiktok ♬ original sound - TaeMoney