The case Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co. held that Congress could regulate the “badges and incidents of slavery” under the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

Joseph Lee Jones had tried to buy a house in a white neighborhood in St. Louis, but was denied because he was Black. The Court sided with Jones and held that Section 1982 of the congressional act was intended to prohibit all discrimination against blacks in the sale and rental of property, including governmental and private discrimination.The case reversed many previous private discrimination precedents set by the court.

Based upon content from the Missouri State Archives, Timeline of Missouri History.  

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