Racist covenants still exist on some Virginia land deeds, there are now workshops to get rid of them

MOUNT VERNON, Va. — A workshop was announced Thursday to deal with 30 Northern Virginia neighborhoods that have reported racist and antisemitic language in their property records.  

Although no longer legal, restrictive real estate covenants that banned Black Americans, Jewish Americans and other ethnic minorities from buying homes in white neighborhoods became widespread in the United States throughout the early 20th century. 

After a push from civil rights leaders, these restrictions on housing were abolished in 1968 with the Fair Housing Act. But the legacy of this unfortunate period of U.S. history lives on in the language found in the property records of some Northern Virginia homeowners. 

In Hollindale, a deed restricted, "any person of the Semitic race, blood or origin, or Jews, Armenians, Hebrews, Persians and Syrians." 

Others, like in Hybla Valley Farms restricted access to Black buyers.

"No part of said land shall be granted, leased, sold or conveyed to a person or persons of African descent," a Hybla Valley Farms deed reads. 

Two Virginia politicians Senator Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Delegate Paul Krizek, D-Mount Vernon, are hosting a workshop to address the issue. The event has been scheduled for Oct. 26 at the WISH Center at 7950 Audubon Ave. in Alexandria. 

According to Virginia Senator Surovell's office, Hybla Valley Farms, Hollindale, Wellington, Hollin Hall, Groveton, Belle Haven, Jefferson Manor and Huntington all have reported racist and antisemitic language in property records and deeds. 

"Ongoing efforts are underway to find these covenants and document where they can be found in property deeds in order to educate residents and take steps to remove discriminatory language where it still exists," Senator Surovell said on Thursday.