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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

Report on Urban Renewal Programs and Their Effects on Racial Minority Group Housing in Three Iowa Cities - Page 1

Introduction

Iowa, traditionally and geographically the heart of the Nation's agricultural life, has seen the burgeoning of many towns into urban areas during the last two decades. In the wake of this development, new patterns in community structure have emerged and some of these have brought problems not yet totally resolved. One of the most visible is that of discrimination in housing against minority groups.

The large number of Negroes who, since the end of World War II have come to other Northern states, have not come to Iowa. Hence, of Iowa's approximately 3 million residents, less than 1 percent are Negroes.1 However, they are not scattered throughout the 99 counties but are contracted in the State's eight most heavily populated counties. In addition, a population of slightly more than 500 American Indians lives in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. This population increases seasonally.

Although Iowa does have several important State statutes which seek to assure equal rights for minority groups, it does not have a law which is designed to eliminate discrimination in housing. Its statute governing antidiscrimination in public accommodation goes back to the 1880's and is one of the oldest such statutes in the United States. It provides that all persons shall be entitled to:

the full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, chophouses, eating houses, lunch counters, and all other places where refreshments are served, public conveyances, barber shops, bathhouses, theaters, and all other places of amusement.2

There is little evidence that this law was considered a dynamic tool in insuring the rights of racial minorities prior to World War II. Since that time, however, it has been utilized in the courts with singular success, and, particularly in the last decade, the statute's goals have been realized to a significant degree.
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1. 1960 census.

2. Ch. 735.1, Code of Iowa.

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Introduction Iowa, traditionally and geographically the heart of the Nation's agricultural life, has seen the burgeoning of many towns into urban areas during the last two decades. In the wake of this development, new patterns in community structure have emerged and some of these have brought problems not yet totally resolved. One of the most visible is that of discrimination in housing against minority groups. The large number of Negroes who, since the end of World War II have come to other Northern states, have not come to Iowa. Hence, of Iowa's approximately 3 million residents, less than 1 percent are Negroes.1 However, they are not scattered throughout the 99 counties but are contracted in the State's eight most heavily populated counties. In addition, a population of slightly more than 500 American Indians lives in Council Bluffs and Sioux City. This population increases seasonally. Although Iowa does have several important State statutes which seek to assure equal rights for minority groups, it does not have a law which is designed to eliminate discrimination in housing. Its statute governing antidiscrimination in public accommodation goes back to the 1880's and is one of the oldest such statutes in the United States. It provides that all persons shall be entitled to: the full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, chophouses, eating houses, lunch counters, and all other places where refreshments are served, public conveyances, barber shops, bathhouses, theaters, and all other places of amusement.2 There is little evidence that this law was considered a dynamic tool in insuring the rights of racial minorities prior to World War II. Since that time, however, it has been utilized in the courts with singular success, and, particularly in the last decade, the statute's goals have been realized to a significant degree. _____________ 1. 1960 census. 2. Ch. 735.1, Code of Iowa. 1