Watch The Injustice Files: Sundown Towns

The Injustice Files: Sundown Towns is a gripping and informative true crime documentary series available on Amazon Addon. Each of the six episodes in this series tackles a different aspect of the dark history of sundown towns, communities where African Americans were not welcome to be after dark.

Narrator Keith Beauchamp leads viewers through an exploration of some of the most egregious and shocking cases of racial violence and injustice, as well as highlighting the bravery and resilience of those who fought back against these horrors. Through archival footage, interviews with survivors and their families, and expert analysis, The Injustice Files shines a light on a deeply troubling legacy of American history that continued in some form until very recently.

The first episode, "The Early Years," sets the stage for the series by examining the origins of sundown towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Viewers learn how county after county in the Midwest and South systematically drove out or terrorized black communities, enforcing a white supremacist ideal of "racial purity" that led to countless atrocities.

The second episode, "The South," delves more deeply into the ways in which white communities in the Deep South enforced segregation and exclusion, often with the help of law enforcement or other official bodies. Whether it was through outright lynchings, mass expulsions, or more subtle forms of intimidation, the experiences of those who lived through these times are harrowing and heartbreaking.

In episode three, "Manifest Destiny," the series turns to sundown towns in the western United States, where Native Americans and Mexicans also faced discrimination and violence. The brutal expulsion of Chinese workers from towns like Rock Springs, Wyoming, serves as a stark reminder that racial violence was not limited to the black experience in America.

Episodes four and five, "The Midwest" and "The North," respectively, explore how sundown towns took root in these parts of the country. Episodes four highlights the case of Anna Brown, a young black woman who was found hanging in a park in Marion, Indiana, in 1930. Despite evidence of foul play, the authorities ruled her death a suicide and the community closed ranks around her killer. Meanwhile, episode five brings viewers to the present day, revisiting communities where segregation and exclusion allegedly continue to this day.

Finally, the series concludes with "Justice for Anna," which picks up the thread of Anna Brown's case and the efforts of a local historian to uncover the truth about her death. With the help of interviews with Brown's surviving relatives as well as other experts, viewers gain a sense of the power of bearing witness and of how some communities today are still grappling with a past that is all too present.

Overall, The Injustice Files: Sundown Towns is a compelling and thought-provoking series that combines true crime storytelling with social commentary and historical analysis. Whether you are a true crime buff, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about issues of race and justice in America, this series is well worth watching. It sheds light on a part of our national history that has often been obscured or ignored, while offering hope that the truth can help bring about healing and accountability.

The Injustice Files: Sundown Towns is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (1 episodes). The series first aired on February 11, 2013.