Escaping Sundown Towns

1922

Black travelers faced danger if they didn’t leave certain towns by sunset.

“Sundown” or “sunset” towns were white towns that posed dangers for African Americans. While on the road, Black travelers tried to avoid such places, where they could face harassment or violence.

This Chicago Defender article reports an incident involving unnamed Black musicians invited to play at a dance for University of Oklahoma students. Described as “Race musicians,” they were forced to leave Norman, Oklahoma, because of its sundown rule.