You’d think that after so many years since the lifting of segregation laws, towns throughout the United States wouldn’t be as hostile as they are towards people of color. 

While that’s largely true, there remains a select group of towns titled “sundown” towns, also known as “gray” or “sunset” towns, that are largely unwelcoming and even hostile to people of color who make their way into their community.

For those who don’t know, a sundown town is an all-white municipality in the United States that practices some form of racial segregation through discriminatory laws, intimidation, or violence.

While most prevalent prior to the 1950s, some still exist today, including in Illinois.
The term “sundown” originates from the direction that people of color are expected to leave the town by sundown. Historically, those minority figures who remain after dark often face harassment, insults, threats, or even physical violence. 

Despite segregation laws having been lifted 60 years ago, these sundown towns continue to use fear of threats and violence to their advantage, preserving their segregated and racist municipalities and neighborhoods. 

What many don’t know, however, is that Illinois sets the record for having had over 400-500 sundown towns in history. Many of those are not current, but they hold a heavy history rooted in racism. 

Some of these towns are much closer than you would think. 

Mt. Zion, a village in Macon County, shared by Decatur, was historically a sundown town. Mt. Zion, while not current, held a long history of excluding Black people from their town. 

Its history turned violent with Samuel J. Bush’s lynching in 1893, having been considered one of the town’s most “exciting” events. 

Some other more current sundown towns in Illinois include Anna, Cicero, De Land, Effingham, Eldorado, Granite City, Pekin, Salem, and Sandoval. While they cannot legally be considered sundown towns today, considering the illegality of segregation, towns such as the ones listed above have majorly white populations, some up to 95%. 

Racism is still deeply rooted in towns such as the ones listed, and there is still a lot of hostility directed towards people of color, especially Black people. 

Many people comment on the fact that, while driving through these more rural towns, they might see a number of Trump flags, Confederate flags, and even swastikas.

So next time you’re driving through rural towns on your way home from Millikin, take note of what you see on your drive. 

Hopefully, you won’t have to drive through a sundown town yourself, but if you do, be sure to stay safe and to stay aware. 

If you want more information on sundown towns in Illinois, check out this link.

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