California's sundown towns: A history of segregation - The Sacramento Observer

California's sundown towns: A history of segregation - The Sacramento Observer

By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer California’s reputation as a diverse state belies a painful history. From Hawthorne in Los Angeles County to San Leandro in the East Bay, dozens of cities once enforced “sundown” practices that explicitly barred Black residents and visitors after dark. Some posted signs warning them to leave before nightfall. Others relied on police intimidation, racial housing covenants, or mob violence to keep their …