Civil Rights Figure. The Shelleys are notably known for being the subjects in the landmark Supreme Court case: Shelly v. Kraemer. In 1911, residents in a St. Louis neighborhood signed a restrictive covenant agreement that was designed to prevent African Americans and Asian Americans from purchasing property in the area. J.D. and Ethel Shelley, an African American couple, purchased one of the properties on Labadie Avenue without knowledge of the restrictive covenant. Louis Kraemer, a resident in the area brought suit against the Shelleys to enforce the covenant and prevent the couple from moving into the house. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor for the Shelleys but overturned the decision due to a technicality. The court upheld the restrictive covenant and prevented the Shelleys from taking ownership. The Shelleys then appealed to the United States Supreme Court. On May 3, 1948, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the racially restrictive covenants violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The ground breaking case set the foundation on expanding African American rights in the housing community. On December 14, 1990, The Shelleys house was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Civil Rights Figure. The Shelleys are notably known for being the subjects in the landmark Supreme Court case: Shelly v. Kraemer. In 1911, residents in a St. Louis neighborhood signed a restrictive covenant agreement that was designed to prevent African Americans and Asian Americans from purchasing property in the area. J.D. and Ethel Shelley, an African American couple, purchased one of the properties on Labadie Avenue without knowledge of the restrictive covenant. Louis Kraemer, a resident in the area brought suit against the Shelleys to enforce the covenant and prevent the couple from moving into the house. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor for the Shelleys but overturned the decision due to a technicality. The court upheld the restrictive covenant and prevented the Shelleys from taking ownership. The Shelleys then appealed to the United States Supreme Court. On May 3, 1948, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the racially restrictive covenants violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The ground breaking case set the foundation on expanding African American rights in the housing community. On December 14, 1990, The Shelleys house was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Bio by: Precious 10
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