Conclusion

The municipal government of Saint Paul redlined Rondo and then planned a highway to go right through the middle of the community. Despite the mis-labeling of Rondo as slum and ignorance of its vibrancy, Rondo in fact had a thriving economy. Many men had steady employment on the railroad. Others were home and business owners. Rondo was the complete opposite of ideas used to justify building the freeway. It is important to note that the economy within Rondo arose because of and despite discrimination and racial oppression on the part of Saint Paul. Rondo was the main area where black people were able to own homes or businesses. In addition, Rondo residents struggled to gain employment in a number of Twin Cities industries such as the breweries. In turn, business ownership in Rondo provided a space and opportunities to create self-sustaining businesses to provide employment and financial success that was not easily accessible outside of Rondo. It is necessary to remember the ways that Rondo residents had “ownership and occupations” in order to disrupt the historical misrepresentation. Creating a narrative that highlights the economic successes of Rondo has the potential to change the way that we currently understand Rondo and other African-American communities in Saint Paul. It is difficult to conceive of a future economic engine for the African-American community in Saint Paul without understanding the economy that was destroyed by the construction of the freeway. These artifacts provide solid evidence of the successes of Rondo residents and by placing them in this online exhibit we hope that future generations will feel empowered and inspired.