White After Dark

“White After Dark” is an animated story depicting the formation of a fictitious Sundown Town. The project uses storytelling to contrast the different experiences of residents in the town and highlight their hidden history. A similar sequence of events occurred in towns across the country between 1890 and1940. A Black resident was accused of a crime. Panic spread throughout the White residents of the town. Finally, the White residents drove out the Black residents of the town. In many cases this was a violent process, often leading to the burning down of Black homes or lynching of the accused. The White residents were seldom held accountable for their crimes. After expelling the Black community, they passed ordinances, hung signs, and threatened violence to keep their town all-White.