Teach with HistoryLink

Introduction

For decades, redlining policies and racially restrictive covenants kept many people of color in Washington State from buying homes in certain neighborhoods. These practices were often backed by local governments, banks, and real estate agents, shaping cities like Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma in ways that still affect housing, schools, and wealth today. In this civics inquiry, students investigate how redlining worked, how it was challenged through the courts and community action, and what responsibilities government has to ensure fair housing today. Students explore the role of laws, courts, and citizens in addressing systemic discrimination and consider what civic action looks like now.

HistoryLink Articles

• Redlining, Racial Covenants, and Housing Discrimination in Seattle
• Redlining, Racial Covenants, and Housing Discrimination in Spokane
• Redlining, Racial Covenants, and Housing Discrimination in Tacoma
• Seattle votes down open housing on March 10, 1964.
• Seattle City Council approves open housing ordinance on April 19, 1968.
• Seattle Civic Unity Committee denounces restrictive covenants that discriminate against African Americans, Jews, and Asians in February 1948.

Maps