The Wheatley Aires, a men’s singing group, sing in front of an audience at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (809 Aldrich Avenue North) with a pianist accompanying. ca. 1950.

Wheatley Aires

The Wheatley Aires, a men’s singing group, sing in front of an audience at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (809 Aldrich Avenue North) with a pianist accompanying. ca. 1950. Photograph Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul

Near North African American Community, Minneapolis

The Near North community of Minneapolis—made up of the neighborhoods of Harrison, Hawthorne, Jordan, Near North, Sumner-Glenwood, and Willard-Hay—has had a major African American presence since the early 1900s. Distinguished by its own businesses, organizations, and culture, it remains a hub of African American Minnesotan life in the twenty-first century.

Minneapolis residents discuss policing and community relations at one of Inter-Race’s group forums, 1991. From the organizational records of the INTER-RACE Institute 1986–2001 (box 1991 123.F.10.4F), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

Inter-Race group forum on policing and community relations

Minneapolis residents discuss policing and community relations at one of Inter-Race’s group forums, 1991. From the organizational records of the INTER-RACE Institute 1986–2001 (box 1991 123.F.10.4F), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

St. Paul police officer Debbie Montgomery in uniform, 1975. Used with the permission of Debbie Montgomery.

Debbie Montgomery

St. Paul police officer Debbie Montgomery in uniform, 1975. Used with the permission of Debbie Montgomery.

James H. Burrell, 1890s.

James H. Burrell

James H. Burrell, 1890s.

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin sitting at his desk, ca. 1960s. From box 1 of the James S. Griffin papers (P1679), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin sitting at his desk, ca. 1960s. From box 1 of the James S. Griffin papers (P1679), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin sitting at his desk, ca. 1960s. From box 1 of the James S. Griffin papers (P1679), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin sitting at his desk, ca. 1960s. From box 1 of the James S. Griffin papers (P1679), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin

St. Paul Police Deputy James S. Griffin sitting at his desk, ca. 1960s. From box 1 of the James S. Griffin papers (P1679), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

Neighborhood Resistance to I-94, 1953–1965

In the 1950s, planned construction of Interstate Highway 94 (I-94) threatened to fracture four Twin Cities neighborhoods: Rondo, Prospect Park, Merriam Park, and Seward. Although each community responded differently and achieved different results, all were models of persistence and resistance.

Racial Housing Covenants in the Twin Cities

Minneapolis real estate developers began writing racial covenants—race-based property ownership restrictions—into property deeds in 1910. They were banned by the Minnesota state legislature in 1953, but their use in the early twentieth century laid the foundation for contemporary racial disparities in Minnesota.

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