A review by smemmott
Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism by James W. Loewen

5.0

An eye-opening book about towns or suburbs in the U.S. that excluded or still exclude blacks or other minorities. It stunned me to realize how many towns fit Loewen's definition of a sundown town, and also just how recently many of them have had only white residents (or a tiny number of minority residents.) Loewen thoroughly documents the history and effects of this kind of racial segregation. This book is long, and while very straightforward, it's not a quick read. But it's well-organized, and I think the many examples of racist policies, actions, and attitudes in these towns effectively convey the pervasiveness of this problem.