UW News

Racial Restrictive Covenants Project

February 6, 2023

UW project has uncovered thousands of racially discriminatory housing covenants in Washington state – and it’s not done yet

Artwork featuring newspaper articles about racial covenants in the background and a white family in the foreground. Family is walking by a sign that reads "Welcome: A restricted residential community."

More than 40,000 property deeds containing racially discriminatory language have been uncovered in Western Washington by the Racial Restrictive Covenants Project. Director James Gregory, professor of history at the University of Washington, and his team aren’t finished yet.