“Not welcome to stop for gas or food”: Decades later, Colorado’s history of sundown towns still lingers
Not that long ago, some communities in the state were intentionally all white and didn’t welcome people of color, either as travelers or residents
Gary Jackson, 77, stands with a 1948 family picture at his Denver home on Sept. 13, 2023. Jackson’s parents Floyd and Nancelia are pictured, as well as his younger brother Larry.
(Photo by Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)
By MEGAN ULU-LANI BOYANTON | [email protected] | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: September 22, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 25, 2023 at 12:15 p.m.
Gary Jackson, a 77-year-old Denver native, remembers when traveling to certain parts of the U.S. as a Black man meant inhospitality — and, sometimes, danger.
“Since the time of Jim Crow, (Black) travelers have always dealt with racial discrimination and incidents of violence,” he said.
On their journeys, people of color remained especially wary of “sundown towns,” or enclaves of entirely white populations that wouldn’t accept their business or company, which existed in Colorado and beyond. Instead, they’d plan their trips to not only avoid these indignities, but to also guarantee their physical safety.
To read the complete article, view/download the PDF (CLICK HERE).