The University of Wyoming Student Chapter of Professional Land Managers is trying to amend racist language in covenants across Cheyenne that only permit Caucasians to live in certain neighborhoods.
Currently, the project is focusing on the Arnor neighborhood with the intent to eventually cover more neighborhoods.
These covenants, authored over half a century ago, were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court Decision, Shelley vs Kraemer (1948). Later, the Fair Housing Act backed this decision by outlawing racially prejudicial housing covenants.
Sam Mallory, president of UW Student Chapter of Professional Land Managers, discusses the ramifications behind these covenants.
“This is the equivalent of having a business with a sign on the front that says, ‘caucasians only,’” Mallory said. “They might not be able to enforce it, but the sign is still on the wall.”
The organization has worked to identify and remove these covenants from the title in hopes to create a more inclusive, welcoming community. Despite the positive intent behind the project, some claim the chapter is attempting to erase history.
“We’re really not trying to erase any bit of history, but rather we want anybody who lives in Cheyenne, or anyone in Wyoming for that matter, to have this feeling that the area is inclusive,” the Student Chapter’s Vice President Jared Adams said.
The process allows chapter members to practice valuable career skills as they seek to amend this racist language. Tasks such as going to the courthouse and identifying the covenants prep students for their careers as landmen/women. Right now, the covenant needs a majority vote to be amended. With the help of Professor Kris Koski, the group has sent letters to the neighborhood’s residents notifying them of the language and asking them to vote for the amendment. The chapter plans on going door to door to notify residents, despite the low return rate of the letters.
“One of the really exciting things about this project is the scalability of it,” Adams, who intends to take the role of president in the fall, said. “We intend to continue this effort in the coming terms and also cover areas across our state. That action will take place definitely next year and hopefully long after.”
