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HTMLText_2337A2A0_35B8_6A81_4190_4299C229065A_mobile.html = Racism & Resitance in Glendale
First read the fine print
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Evidence of systemic racism can be found at the start of Glendale’s history. In the early 1900s, ambitious land developers parceled land for sale in what would eventually become Glendale. Under the guise of economic prosperity and security, the developers built restrictive covenants into their land title deeds. A covenant is an agreement between the seller and buyer, and it can often be a condition of sale. Race restrictive covenants used in the sale of properties in Glendale not only restricted who could buy property, but also prevented that buyer from selling to, or allowing use or occupancy of the property by anyone not of the “white or Caucasian race.”
All-American City
What is an All-AMerican City?
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Welcome to Glendale, the 4th largest city in Los Angeles County and home to over 200,000 people. Glendale was incorporated as a charter city in 1906. By the 1920s Glendale had earned two distinct titles: “Fastest Growing City in America” and “All-American City.”
Today, the “All-American City Award” recognizes “communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.” At the turn of the century through the 1960s, however, the term “All-American City” was often used to describe an all-white, or predominantly white city.
In 1964, when George Lincoln Rockwell, the head of the American Nazi Party was asked why he chose Glendale for the Party’s new headquarters he replied, “I’m not too familiar with Glendale, but I understand Glendale is a white-man’s town. The most American. The best in terms of Americanism.”
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We invite you to enter the portal and discover the history of Glendale as an “All-American” city. Feel free to click on any of the icons in the interactive image or use the menu bar along the bottom to see photos and articles selected from Glendale Library, Arts & Culture’s History Room and other archival sources.
There are absences in the Library’s collection due to implicit and explicit bias which has created an incomplete history of our community. This is true of the vast majority of archival collections in the United States. We urge you to use this exhibition as a starting point for your own exploration of racial inequality in Glendale and the United States.
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The image used in this episode is a panoramic view of Glendale, California, showing the various neighborhoods of the city where race restrictive covenants were enforced up until the 1960’s.
All American City
What is an All AMerican City?
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Welcome to Glendale, the 4th largest city in California and home to over 200,000 people.
Glendale was incorporated as a charter city in 1906. By the 1920s Glendale had earned two distinct titles: “Fastest Growing City in America” and “All-American City.”
Today, the “All-American City Award” recognizes, “communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues.” At the turn of the century, and well into the 1960s, however, the term “All-American City” was used to describe a “White” city.
In 1964, when George Lincoln Rockwell, the head of the American Nazi Party was asked why he chose Glendale for the Party’s new headquarters he replied, “I’m not too familiar with Glendale, but I understand Glendale is a white-man’s town. The most American. The best in terms of Americanism."
A Family's Fight
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The Garrott - De Jarnette family moved to Glendale in 1907. As the only Black family in town, they faced racism, threats and intimidation. Despite this, the family resisted and fought for their civil rights at every turn. Some of those fights resulted in legal battles that challenged race restrictive covenants in land deeds and race restrictions on burial plots. The legal case of Forest Lawn vs De Jarnette is still a topic of study in Law schools. The Garrott and De Jarnette families’ fight for equity was instrumental in the development of fair housing and anti-discrimination laws.
The De Jarnette and Garrott Families
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Well-educated and accomplished African-American families faced harsh intimidation if they were successful in purchasing property. When Dr. Alva Garrott relocated from Los Angeles to Glendale for his ill wife, he received anonymous threats and orders to leave town.
Racism and restrictive covenants extended beyond housing into funeral and burial locations. Cemeteries were able to limit interments of Caucasian race only. The De Jarnette family fought back when Mrs. Hattie De Jarnette Hamilton passed away and her funeral services were canceled due to her ethnicity.
Angelus Park
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“WHERE NATURE SMILES THE BRIGHTEST. TWENTY MINUTES FROM SIXTH AND BROADWAY! Curbs, sidewalks, gas, water and electricity. Racial and building restrictions in effect.”
Unkown newspaper, 1922
A Legal Battle
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For decades, the California Real Estate Association (CREA) and the Glendale Real Estate Board perpetuated racial divides in communities under the pretense of protecting property values. In 1963, The California Fair Housing Act, also known as The Rumford Act, was passed by California Legislature to challenge such practices and help end racial discrimination by property owners. The pushback from opponents was predictable and immediate. One year later, Proposition 14 was placed on the ballot to effectively nullify the Rumford Act. White property owners and supporters of Proposition 14 hid their racism behind economic anxiety and individual freedoms and railed against what they saw as interference by State and local government in the rights of property owners in its attempt to create equality for people of color
Rumford Act
& Prop 14
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Passed in 1963, the Rumford act as a state legislation aimed to support diverse home buyers. However, many realtor organizations campaigned with religious institutions to pass Prop 14. Allowing owners to restrict tenants living on the property.
UNfair Housing
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The Glendale Real Estate Board and white property owners created a model of racial housing restrictions to keep Glendale a white city. They developed ordinances that bypassed constitutional laws against discrimination and focused on occupancy and use restrictions. Supported by an aggressive signature gathering campaign where people pledged “not to sell, rent, or lease any property” to people of color, Glendale became the model city for other neighborhoods seeking to restrict their population. This idea of keeping white neighborhoods white was reinforced by the widely-used Security Maps developed by The Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s. These maps introduced the practice of redlining. Redlining designates certain neighborhoods with high concentrations of people of color and immigrants as “red”—making them less likely to receive capital investment, property loans or insurance.
Glendale Real Estate Committee
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Racial tensions spread during WWII to families of Japanese descent. Real estate organizations garnered support to restrict non-white families from living in the community by regulating who could occupy a home. Property sales could not deny a purchaser for their ethnicity, however the community was able to restrict who resided in the property.
ANy White MAn
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Local pharmacist and business owner, A. G. Spohr, a white man, bought a plot of land in Glendale where he intended to build a house for his long-time employee, a Black man. His white neighbors immediately organized against him, calling a town meeting and passing a resolution to provide a “proper zone for races other than the white or Caucasian.” Mr. Spohr stood his ground and responded with an article in the local newspaper, declaring “any other white man would take a similar position.”
SPohr Drugstore
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A.G Sphor, owner of a local drugstore, wanted to build a home for an employee. However, neighbors were concerned and prompted a town meeting on the subject upon discovery that the employee and proposed tenant was of African race. Mr. Spohr made a public statement appealing to residents that he acted within legal means and called for a solution to the restrictive land rights.
Resistance
& Fair Housing
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La Crescenta
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“Beautiful business and residence lots, improved with cement sidewalks and curbs, streets to be oiled; gas will soon be in water already piped in front of lots”
“De Luxe addition in a fully restricted residence property which safeguards your investment and your home from unsightly shacks and other unsightly environments.
It also carries racial restrictions. De Luxe addition is so ideally situated that it is a absolutely safe investment and an ideal place in which to build your home”
Glendale Daily News, 1923
Verdugo Woodlands
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“Scenes at beautiful Verdugo Woodlands. Glendale’s Finest. Live in a country club environment”
Unknown Newspaper, circa 1925
Rossmoyne
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“Twenty-five minute drive form the center of Los Angeles….and you swing off Verdugo Road into the entrance of Rossmoyne.”
“….hundreds of distinctive, colorful homes…winding concrete highways…here and there a thickly wooded spot…”
“Highly restricted and strategically placed, these sites carry an outstanding prestige as the front line homes of Rossmoyne’s choice section. And their values are deep-rooted….safe-guarded by Rossmoyne’s sound, conservative development.”
LA Times, 1928
Campbell Heights
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“Full sized lots! Do not delay!
Improvements - water, gas, streets, curbs, now being completed.
Restrictions - Of nature to assure desirable homes.”
LA Times, 1923
Kenilworth
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“High level view land between inspiring foothills and the broad valley below… the best of Glendale, hemmed in by the finest residential development and directly in the path of its greatest growth… this is Kenilworth Park which bids you, come make your home or invest your funds.”
“Permanent race restrictions and moderate building restricts protect your investment yet allow you to build immediately within your means.”
Glendale Daily News, 1923
Fairview
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“With an unsurpassed view of the mountains and valley, fine soil and drainage in one of the best sections of Northwest Glendale, Fairview offers ideal homesites at prices and terms so low that they are within he reach of everybody.”
"Race restrictions, moderate building restrictions, temporary homes permitted until better ones can be built, if of neat construction and painted. Water, gas, electricity included.”
Glendale Daily Press, 1922
Brockmont Park
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Newspaper advertisement for a Glendale neighborhood that contains race restrictions in the description. Nearly every neighborhood in Glendale had similar restrictions.
“This is your opportunity to have a home in the hills…. Where it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter….away from apartment houses and corner stores…. Yet quickly accessible from downtown over main boulevards…. Carefully devised restrictions.”
LA Times, 1927
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”
To learn more about race restrictions visit “THE FINE PRINT”