An unfortunate era in American history lives on in the words found in the property records of some northern Virginia homeowners.
MOUNT VERNON, Va. — A workshop to address 30 Northern Virginia neighborhoods that reported containing racist and anti-Semitic language in their property records was announced Thursday.
Although no longer legal, restrictive real estate covenants that prohibited Black Americans, Jewish Americans, and other minorities from purchasing homes in white neighborhoods were widespread in America throughout the early 20th century.
With the support of civil rights leaders, these housing restrictions were repealed in 1968 by the Fair Housing Act. But the legacy of this unfortunate era in American history lives on in the words found in the property records of northern Virginia homeowners.
In Hollindale, the statute restricts “Jews, Armenians, Hebrews, Persians, and Syrians of any Semitic race, ancestry, or origin.”
Some, like Hybla Valley Farms, have limited access to black buyers.
Hybla Valley Farm’s deed states, “No portion of said land may be transferred, leased, sold, or transferred to any person of African descent.”
Two Virginia politicians, Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) and Rep. Paul Krizek (D-Mount Vernon), are hosting workshops to address the issue. The event is scheduled for Oct. 26 at the WISH Center, 7950 Audubon Ave. in Alexandria.
Hybra Valley Farms, Hollindale, Wellington, Hollin Hall, Groveton, Belle Haven, Jefferson Manor and Huntington properties have race records listed on their property records and deeds, according to Virginia Sen. Surovell’s office. They reported discriminatory and anti-Semitic language.
Sen. Surovell announced Thursday that there is “ongoing effort to locate these covenants and document where they appear on property deeds in order to educate residents and take steps to remove any discriminatory language that still exists. is underway,” he said.
