Injustice Unveiled: Understanding the Role of Racially Restrictive Covenants in Michigan Communities and Beyond (2024)
DRAFT PROGRAM
Schedule of Proposed Symposium: 1-day Event:
Breakfast and Registration
8:00-9:00 a.m
A continental breakfast will be served to all speakers and attendees from 8-
9 a.m. while MJRL assures that everyone is registered and has been given
their needed material. Mingling between speakers and attendees is
encouraged.
Introduction and Welcome
9:00-9:30 a.m
Welcome: Members of the MJRL board and any co-sponsoring organizations
will welcome attendees and thank both them and the speakers for coming.
Professor Fletcher, as the journal’s advisor and one of the journal’s first
members, will also give a welcome speech.
Introduction: Professors Erman will briefly explain to all attendees why
studying race, racial laws, our racist U.S. history, and the long-term effects
that has today is crucial to do as a student.
What are covenants and how do they work?
9:30-10:15 a.m
Professor Prifogle will give an explanation of covenants generally, how they
are formed and how they work legally. She will also give a brief introduction
into what racially restrictive covenants are. Time for Q & A is included.
15-minute Break
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Panel 1: Finding a racially restrictive covenant and why this topic is timely
10:30-11:15 a.m.
(4 panelists)
For the first panel, we hope to have an array of members from the
Washtenaw County community, community organizers, and local or national
reporters speak on a few things. First, what does it feel like to find a racially
restrictive covenant in your neighborhood or attached to your own home?
Second, why have racially restrictive covenants been talked about over the
past few years in the news? Why is this topic timely?
Panel 2: Contextualizing racially restrictive covenants in the legal, social, and political history of the U.S.
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
(3 panelists)
For the second panel, we hope to have an array of panelists who principally
focus on U.S. history as it relates to race and can discuss the context that
made racially restrictive covenants possible. Importantly, we would like this
panel to also highlight other racist laws and policies that added to housing
segregations, such as: redlining, zoning policies, and ability to get
government loans and mortgages.
Lunch
12:15-1:15 p.m.
Lunch will be served to all attendees, including speakers.
Panel 3: The ins and outs of racially restrictive covenants – how they formed, how they became unenforceable, the effects they had, and why we should focus on them still even if they’re unenforceable
1:15-2:15 p.m.
(3 panelists)
This is our main panel for the day. It will focus on the main point of the symposium, racially restrictive covenants. We will discuss the historical outcomes and effects of housing segregation, but leave long-term effects for the next panel.
Panel 4: The long-term effects of racist housing policies (3 panelists)
2:15-3:15 p.m.
(3 panelists)
We hope this panel will focus on present-day effects of housing segregation.
How are communities of color specifically impacted by historical racist
policies even if they are no longer at play today? What are some effects that
we may not think about but are likely linked to these policies?
15-minute Break
3:15-3:30 p.m.
Presentation from Justice InDeed: A Call to Action
Professor Michael Steinberg and Carol Guarnieri will present on the new
organization Justice InDeed, what they do and why they do it. They will also
walk participants through an easy way to volunteer with their organization,
which includes going through racially restrictive covenants online and filing
them accordingly so Jusice InDeed can make a map for community members
to use. Carol will discuss why doing pro bono work as a student is important
and what she’s gained from the experience.
Closing Remarks and Thank you
4:30-5:00 p.m.
Done by MJRL E-board members, co-sponsors, professor Steinberg, and
professor Fletcher
Community Dinner
5:30-7:30 p.m.
