Minnesota researchers uncover hundreds of racist property deeds in Sherburne County

The Mapping Prejudice Project has uncovered hundreds of racial covenants throughout Minnesota. A partnership with College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University found 356 property deeds in Sherburne County containing racist language that once barred people of color from owning homes or land in Minnesota. Although such covenants are no longer legally enforceable, they left a lasting mark of exclusion on Minnesota communities. Today, property owners can file free legal documents to formally disavow these racist restrictions. Learn more at greatrivercovenants.org and mappingprejudice.umn.edu. Dr. Brittany Merritt Nash of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University explains more about racial covenants.