Residential Patterns and the Beginning of Systemic Racism

Blacks were interspersed among whites throughout the city, free Blacks tended to live in small enclaves reflecting segregation along racial and economic lines. Slaves were often hired out to others and could "live out" in areas of the city with families of free Blacks as well as white laborers.

Free Blacks were clustered around the city, generally occupying the cheaper tracts of land beyond the city limits, "the less desirable bottomland closer to downtown, and especially the narrow streets that bordered the railroad related industries." In areas where there was economic advancement, black leaders and middle class grew and so would churches, schools, and substantial homes. "By the 1890's, 50% of the population was Black and mature and solidly segregated neighborhoods nearly encircled the city. White attitudes were considered 'racial claustrophobia', feeling that the city was under siege by displaced Blacks.

The institutions that grew depended on the Black community for their survival and created social and neighborhood solidarity.

"By the mid-1880's nine Black churches stood in Black neighborhoods. A decade later, predominantly Black Second and Fourth Wards included the city's two graded schools, six Black churches, one of the city's two Black colleges, the Colored Masonic Hall, and the Institute for the Colored Deaf, Dumb and Blind.

These racially segregated areas that encircled the city limits were called the "suburbs" and the city commissioners decried the moral climate of the outlying Black districts. There were still some white laborers living in these areas but, as they could move out they generally did so.

The goals was to keep Negroes out of white neighborhoods to prevent racial mixing and the lowering of property values. However, by doing this, that meant that larger numbers of Negroes into areas that white people couldn't control. Negroes had reasons to enjoy the areas that they lived in including easy access to their jobs, welcoming the freedom from white surveillance, and enjoying being in the company of other Negroes. However, the segregation brought other, involuntary issues, including:

• poverty because of limited housing options
• living under the pressure of whites to keep Blacks out of their neighborhoods so they ended up living in the worst part of the cities.

White people generally chose to live along ridges and on top of hills.  This meant that the land that Blacks occupied was land that was considered unfit for whites.  These low-lying areas were near contaminated streams, slaughterhouses, flour mills, industrial sites or close to cemeteries (with drainage and offensive odors).

Often these areas were in alleys (i.e., Stronach's Alley).  They could be behind businesses, leading hotels. or in former slave quarters behind fashionable residences that always needed staff available.  They were considered filthy, narrow places with open sewers; breeding ground of disease/crime; areas only fit for cattle.

These areas were cause for high mortality rates; long waits for streetcar service; lacked street lights and fire protection.  For the vast majority of Blacks, it was substandard living.  However, Blacks took what housing they could get and sometimes it was a room for a family instead of a house.

One of the ways to control the Black populations was to annex the areas because of "unsanitary conditions or lawlessness".  The annexation brought in a segregated community, where more institutions were built, just continuing the pattern of segregation.  This is part of what happened with Oberlin Village in the early 1900's.

In fact, because of segregated neighborhoods, the Democratic Party would keep Black citizens living in the 2nd and 4th Wards to keep them from gaining majorities in the 5th Ward, thus diluting voting strength as well.