For Black Americans, ‘Sundown’ Approaches as a Fateful Inauguration Looms

Stacy M. Brown | NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

With more than half of Latino men and white women voting to elect Donald Trump, the repercussions for African Americans were blatantly ignored. While there's little doubt that white women—sacrificing their rights to choose healthcare—and Latinos—sealing the fate of many of their brethren who will be ostracized, deported, and worse, will reap some of the repercussions of Trump's return—Black citizens face the brunt of that decision, confronting the potential resurgence of sundown towns, unchecked racist policing, and policies that threaten to let America's ugliest prejudices flourish once more.

Trump's proposed and devastating agenda includes dismantling the Department of Justice's civil rights division and ending federal oversight that has long been essential for marginalized communities. Even more alarming, Trump has pledged to grant police officers complete immunity in cases involving unarmed citizens, signaling a return to a climate where police can act without accountability. For many, this agenda is not only a step backward—it is a revival of an era when Black Americans had to tread carefully in towns across America to avoid violence or worse.

Sundown Towns: A Legacy Closer Than Expected

Historically, "sundown towns" were communities where Black Americans were told to leave by sunset or face violent consequences. Though often associated with the Jim Crow South, these towns spanned the entire country, from coast to coast, leaving their mark in states not far from Washington, D.C. In Levittown, Pennsylvania, for instance, Black families were explicitly barred from purchasing homes when a town was developed in the 1950s—a policy reflective of racial exclusion in other nearby communities. Similarly, Elkton, Maryland, located less than two hours from D.C., held an unspoken "no-go" rule for Black travelers after dark, a reminder of the racial divide near the nation's capital.

Further examples dot the region. Vienna, Virginia, although not historically labeled a sundown town, had neighborhoods with restrictive covenants excluding Black residents, and Greenwood, Delaware, similarly held an exclusionary legacy through much of the 20th century. Such towns, both near and far, stand as reminders that racial hostility is not confined to distant history or faraway places.

In Ohio, Parrysville and New Lebanon carry lingering reputations for exclusion, while Martinsville, Indiana, a required pass-through town for students heading to Indiana University, is marked by Confederate flags and reminders of a time when Black residents were warned to stay away. In Kentucky, research indicates that at least 60 towns continue to be identified as sundown towns, with Corbin and Salisbury, North Carolina, retaining incredibly hostile attitudes toward Black residents and travelers. In Vidor, Texas—another notorious sundown town—Confederate flags and racially exclusive policies create an environment where Black visitors know they are unwelcome.

Driving While Black: An Ongoing Risk

The legacy of sundown towns is alive in the experiences of Black Americans today, especially while traveling. The experience of Sheila Lettsome and her husband in 2019 serves as evidence that "driving while Black" is still a dangerous reality. Driving through a quiet Ohio town, police stopped the couple without reason. Despite having an updated registration, police officers asked where they were going and if they were "lost." Sensing a silent threat, they quickly took the officer's "suggested route" out of town. Only later did they learn they'd crossed into a known sundown town—a reminder that, in some places, Black travelers are still unsafe on the road.

Such incidents highlight the dangers Black Americans continue to face in areas with sundown legacies. Trump's plan to grant police full immunity—especially in cases involving unarmed citizens—amplifies this threat. The proposed protections for police, combined with a dismantling of the DOJ's civil rights division, effectively tell Black Americans that abuses could go unchecked and unpunished, making "driving while Black" an even greater risk.

Trump's Campaign Rallies: A Signal to "Sundown America"

Trump's campaign rallies themselves sent alarms across Black communities. Choosing to hold events in towns known for racial exclusion and Ku Klux Klan activity, such as Howell, Michigan, and Cullman, Alabama, many civil rights advocates argue these stops are intentional dog whistles. Cullman, a town where for decades Black visitors were warned to "not let the sun set on their heads," hosted a Trump rally—a move some called a loud signal to his far-right base.

In Howell, which has a history of KKK activity, videos from the rally showed Black attendees facing verbal and physical harassment, reinforcing the racial tensions that sundown towns once weaponized to intimidate. At the time, Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign described these venues as a "deliberate choice," intended to rally extremist supporters and rekindle painful reminders of America's past racial hostilities.

A Future Without Civil Rights Protections

The Trump agenda is not limited to rhetoric or rally locations; his proposal to eliminate the DOJ's civil rights division would strip away vital protections for Black communities. The DOJ has long served as a backstop for holding law enforcement accountable and defending against housing, employment, and voting discrimination. Without it, Black Americans are left without crucial federal support, leaving them exposed to abuses and discrimination that could escalate under Trump's immunity plan for police.

Granting complete immunity to police who shoot unarmed citizens creates an environment in which law enforcement could operate without consequences, giving Black communities fewer options to contest misconduct or violence. This vision threatens to turn back the clock to an era where sundown towns enforced racial exclusion with impunity. Trump's campaign promises, coupled with his choice of rally venues, suggest that his second term could usher in a "sundown America"—a country where Black citizens must once again live with constant vigilance, mindful of the dangers of traveling, living, or simply existing freely.

An Ominous Roadmap for Black America

For Black Americans, Trump's campaign rallies, rhetoric, and policies form a chilling roadmap toward a society that looks disturbingly like the days of Jim Crow. As historian James Loewen, author of , warned, the greatest mistake is to assume sundown towns are relics of the past. "Driving while Black" in these communities often means navigating unspoken rules, risking dangerous encounters, and carrying a constant awareness of hostile environments.

"Sometimes the dog whistle actually works, loudly spoken," remarked Professor Joyce Alene Vance. For Black Americans, the threat of sundown towns and Trump's proposed rollback of civil rights protections cast a dark shadow. "Without the DOJ's oversight and with broad police immunity, Black Americans could face a landscape where, once again, some towns remain dangerous to enter, let alone call home," Sandra Allison, a defense lawyer in Alabama, stated.