Rhode Island : Hope

Rhode Island, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US. Despite its size, Rhode Island has a lot to offer tourists. Rhode Island is home to many historical sites, beautiful beaches, and delicious seafood.

Rhode Island is also a great place to learn about American history, especially the history of racism and Jim Crow.
Rhode Island was one of the first states to ratify the Constitution, and it was also one of the first states to abolish slavery. However, Rhode Island did not officially abolish slavery until 1842, nearly 20 years after most other states had done so. This delay was due in part to the large number of slaveholders in Rhode Island at the time. In fact, Rhode Island was the last Northern state to abolish slavery.

After abolition, Rhode Island passed a series of Jim Crow laws that discriminated against black people. These laws mandated separate but equal facilities for blacks and whites and prohibited interracial marriage. Jim Crow laws were not finally abolished in Rhode Island until 1963.
Racism is a pervasive and insidious problem that affects many parts of the United States, and Rhode Island is no exception. Despite its small size and reputation for being a progressive state, Rhode Island has a long and complex history of racism that continues to shape its social and political landscape today.

One of the most significant issues facing Rhode Island in terms of racism is the persistent racial wealth gap. According to a 2017 report by the Economic Progress Institute, the median household income for white families in Rhode Island is more than twice that of Black and Latino families. This gap is even wider when it comes to wealth, with white households having a median net worth that is more than ten times that of Black and Latino households. These disparities are the result of a long history of discriminatory policies and practices, including redlining, which denied people of color access to mortgages and loans, and exclusion from high-paying jobs and educational opportunities.

Another major issue facing Rhode Island is police brutality and systemic racism within law enforcement. In recent years, the state has seen a number of high-profile cases of police violence against Black and Brown people, including the killing of Joseph Santos, a Cape Verdean man who was shot and killed by police in 2017, and the assault of Jhamal Gonsalves, a Black man who was seriously injured when a police car collided with his moped during a protest in 2020. These incidents have sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform, but many activists and community members argue that much more needs to be done to address the root causes of police brutality and ensure accountability for officers who engage in misconduct.

Additionally, Rhode Island has a history of racial discrimination in housing, education, and employment. The state was one of the last in the nation to desegregate its schools, and many neighborhoods remain highly segregated to this day. The state has also been criticized for its lack of diversity in political leadership, with only a handful of people of color holding elected office at the state or local level.

SUNDOWN TOWNS IN RHODE ISLAND

Sundown town, in U.S. history, a town that excluded nonwhite people—most frequently African Americans—from remaining in town after sunset.

Here is a current list of sundown towns in Rhode Island. This list has been created by Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS. This list is a work in progress. Some cities have been confirmed as sundown towns and some are listed for other or similar reasons.

Cumberland

Woonsocket