Bonton, Dallas facts for kids

Bonton is a historic neighborhood in South Dallas, Texas. It's known for its strong African-American community. The area is located within the 75215 zip code. It's bordered by Hatcher Street and South Central Expressway to the north and west. To the east and south, you'll find Municipal Street and Donald Street.

Artists and researchers Lauren Woods and Cynthia Mulcahy suggest the name "Bon Ton" might come from a French phrase. "Bon ton" means "high society," "fashionable," or "stylish." This term was popular in Black communities in the early 1900s. Old newspaper ads, like those in The Dallas Express, even used phrases like "High Classed, Bon Ton, Restricted Residences for Negroes" to describe new homes in this part of South Dallas. Bonton was also once connected to Deep Ellum, a Black arts and culture district, by a direct road.

Today, the main groups living in Bonton are African Americans and Hispanics. Over 75% of the people are African American. Many residents face challenges, with a significant number living below the poverty line. Also, many haven't finished high school. These challenges have led to efforts to improve the area, a mission that continues today.

Bonton's Story

Maps show that Bonton was built between 1919 and the 1940s. Not much was written down about its early days. What we know comes from stories passed down by people who grew up there and from old Black newspapers. Residents often remember this time as a "golden age" for Bonton. They describe a strong sense of community and respect among neighbors.

However, as early as 1932, Bonton started getting a bad reputation in the wider media for crime. This idea has unfortunately stuck around. For example, the first time Bonton was mentioned in The Dallas Morning News, it was about a gang leader.

In the 1940s, it became very hard for minority groups, especially African Americans, to find good homes. The available housing was often poor quality. Because of this, many tried to move beyond their crowded, segregated neighborhoods. But they faced strong opposition across Dallas. Starting in 1940, white residents began attacking the new homes of Black families in traditionally white areas. These attacks stopped only when the United States entered World War II.

The attacks started again in 1950 in the Queen City neighborhood, just north of Bonton. They continued despite protests and pleas to the Governor for help. The attacks finally stopped when the City began making arrests, though no one was ever found guilty. Books like "The Accommodation" by Jim Schutze and "White Metropolis" by Michael Philips tell more about this challenging history. They explain how leaders in Dallas created a society that often excluded African Americans from power.

Turner Courts Housing

In the 1940s, many African Americans moved from farms to cities like Dallas. This large movement, combined with poverty, made Dallas's housing problem even worse. To help, the city built five housing projects. One of these was Turner Courts, which opened in 1952. It was named after J.L. Turner Sr., one of the first Black lawyers in Texas. Turner Courts was meant to house 294 low-income African American families. Rent was based on what families could afford.

However, Turner Courts also created problems for the Bonton community. First, it made the existing separation in South Dallas even stronger. In 1962, the Dallas Housing Authority said Turner Courts was only for low-income African American families. Even when anti-segregation laws came out later, Turner Courts continued to separate people. For example, in 1968, a rule said former soldiers couldn't be denied housing because of their race. But a Dallas Morning News article from 1968 quoted Turner Courts saying that "segregation [was] a way of life" there. They believed no big changes would happen because few Black residents could afford a long lawsuit to challenge it.

Second, and very importantly, Turner Courts brought more crime to Bonton. Bonton and South Dallas became known for their crime rates. A 1969 study linked this increase to poverty and people moving in and out often. These patterns of crime and separation continued until the 1980s. By then, Turner Courts was seen as an embarrassment to Dallas, a city that was otherwise growing fast. People called the projects examples of Dallas's "paradox"—run-down, crime-filled areas next to shiny downtown skyscrapers.

In 1984, Dallas tried to lower crime in Turner Courts with security patrols. But the effort to save the housing project was given up, and it was torn down in 2009. In 2012, work began on a new housing complex called Buckeye Trail Commons. This new project includes a community garden and homes for sale, aiming to create better opportunities for residents.

Making Bonton Better

Today, there's a big effort to make Bonton a better place to live.

One group leading this effort is BridgeBuilders. This Christian organization works to "restore urban communities." They focus on education, health, economic growth, and spiritual development. BridgeBuilders was started by Mike Fechner, from a wealthy part of North Dallas, and Velma Mitchell, who grew up in Bonton. Their goal is to build strong connections between people.

BridgeBuilders helps the South Dallas community in many ways. They offer job training and mentoring programs, followed by help finding jobs. They also provide affordable healthcare through eye, dental, and counseling clinics. They build meaningful relationships by regularly reaching out to the community.

Habitat for Humanity is also a key partner in helping Bonton. In March 2013, this organization promised $100 million to fix up or build 1,000 homes in Dallas's five poorest neighborhoods, including Bonton. This project is called the Dream Dallas Initiative. To show how big this project is, Habitat for Humanity had spent $95 million on homes in its first 25 years. Now, they plan to spend $5 million more on Dream Dallas in just 2013-2014 alone. Dream Dallas also aims to reduce crime, make public transportation easier to access, improve schools, provide medical services, and help local businesses grow. They work with existing community programs too.

The Bonton Neighborhood Association also plays an important role. It was started by community members Clifton Reese and Velma Mitchell. This group helps residents feel proud of their homes and create a neighborhood where they want to live.