In the mid-20th century, middle-class suburban neighborhoods multiplied in the United States. New Deal programs led the charge by incentivizing bankers, builders, and buyers. Several other factors contributed to the precipitous rise of the suburb. In California, the postwar economy further encouraged the housing boom by creating newly available jobs. Even though many people saw a middle-class lifestyle within reach, not everyone would enjoy the same level of access, partake of the same benefits, nor would they exercise the same range of choices in where and how they lived. Racially discriminatory policy expanded the voice of white supremacy, further tightening the aperture of opportunity for many potential homeowners.

Given these conditions, a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts of South Palo Alto, California in 1950 seems like the last place one would expect to find three newly constructed homes for a planned, interracial subdivision. Plans for the Lawrence Tract had been approved in 1948, yet it wasn’t until the end of 1955 that twelve homes bustled with middle-class white, Asian, and African American families. Mothers traded recipes, organized childcare in their homes, and took children on spontaneous outings. Fathers taught reading, art, and engaged children in outdoor building projects. Families held block parties, played baseball in the adjacent field, and greeted new neighbors by helping them move in. Children moved freely from home to home, watching after and accompanying one another to school. The Lawrence Tract looked much like any of the dozens of suburban developments in the California Bay Area, save the diverse nature of the homes and their residents.