Comparative Case Study: The history of Sundown Towns

Author Names and Emails

Amyre M. CainFollow

Authors' Affiliations

Amyre Cain Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Location

Culp Ballroom

Start Date

4-7-2022 9:00 AM

End Date

4-7-2022 12:00 PM

Poster Number

105

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Sociology & Anthropology

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Candace Bright

Classification of First Author

Undergraduate Student

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Project's Category

Cultural Studies, Sociology

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Abstract

Comparative Case Study: The History of Erwin: Sundown Towns

Amyre Cain and Dr. Candace Forbes Bright,

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

The conception of Sundown Town is to exploit minorities from their land. This increases white spaces that allow racism and other racial issues to increase. Sundown Town originated between 1865 and the 1930s. After Blacks became free from enslavement, White fear had increased due to the loss of power. White citizens within these towns would forcefully exclude people of color and other ethnicities from their town whenever the sun went down. Specifically, Black residents were forced off of their land by White mobs. In my research, I have examined, through a qualitative case study, how Erwin has Handled and Acknowledged white supremacy and the progress of racial inequality. My methodology for this research consists of interviewing six individuals who not only have played a key role within the community but who are local historians as well. In strengthening the historical understanding of Erwin, there are possibilities for building relations between the black and white communities.

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Apr 7th, 9:00 AM Apr 7th, 12:00 PM

Comparative Case Study: The history of Sundown Towns

Culp Ballroom

Abstract

Comparative Case Study: The History of Erwin: Sundown Towns

Amyre Cain and Dr. Candace Forbes Bright,

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

The conception of Sundown Town is to exploit minorities from their land. This increases white spaces that allow racism and other racial issues to increase. Sundown Town originated between 1865 and the 1930s. After Blacks became free from enslavement, White fear had increased due to the loss of power. White citizens within these towns would forcefully exclude people of color and other ethnicities from their town whenever the sun went down. Specifically, Black residents were forced off of their land by White mobs. In my research, I have examined, through a qualitative case study, how Erwin has Handled and Acknowledged white supremacy and the progress of racial inequality. My methodology for this research consists of interviewing six individuals who not only have played a key role within the community but who are local historians as well. In strengthening the historical understanding of Erwin, there are possibilities for building relations between the black and white communities.