Hansberry V. Lee: A Narrative Analysis

The Woodlawn Property Owner’s Association initiated a restrictive covenant that encouraged homeowners not to sell their homes to black prospectors in order to combat the growing number of non-whites moving into the neighborhood. However, this covenant did not prevent those of color from working as servants and chauffeurs and residing in the “basement, barn or garage” of these homes. When black resident Carl Hansberry bought a home in one of these Chicago neighborhoods in 1940 where the covenant was in play, the case made its way to the Supreme Court, Hansberry v. Lee, where Hansberry was allowed to challenge it because the proper amount of signatures to uphold the covenant was not obtained. This led to more black residents inhabiting these
At first they all hated blacks and deemed them inferior, however it is ironic that the poorer farmers utilized their support and assistance when it was convenient, with creating a separate party against the elite farmers. This was only because of course, the only thing the farmers saw that they had in common was that they were all treated poorly by these elite farmers, but I am confident that they still felt that they were still above the blacks. However, it was this commonality that brought two separate groups together and able to begin to relate to one another because they both needed each other. The Woodpeckers would not have been able to begin to support themselves without more of others’ involvement, while the blacks would not have been given a voice in the election without involving themselves in this party. Because the Woodpeckers failed in their goals however, I would almost bet that the tensions and segregations between these groups who had once joined alliance, only continued after the breakdown of the party because of the need to conform and adhere to the racist society, especially in conservative Southern Texas. It is also important to mention that the Supreme Court was not protecting those of colors’ right to vote or be involved in the election when they dismissed the Jaybird party for being