Like many other communities in Dallas, Oak Cliff saw a major change in its ethnic population mix as a result of new civil rights laws enacted during the 1960s. A large shift in population diversity resulted -- popularly called "white flight." This flight of a large number of middle-class people took away a lot of the area's buying power. Coupled with some business owners' and corporations' belief that a mixed race area was not good for business -- many businesses that had once thrived in shopping areas such as Jefferson Boulevard, Wynnewood Shopping Center, and the Lancaster-Kiest Shopping mall closed or moved to other locations.

Sanger Harris, Titches and Sears along with many other stores moved to a new mall on the edge of southern Dallas (Red Bird Mall). Montgomery Ward stayed in Wynnewood Village, but many of the stores along Jefferson and in Wynnewood changed from major national brands to local thrift shops.

Home prices plummeted. A large house in Winnetka Heights could be purchased for $10,000. Whereas churches saw record growth in the 50's and early 60's, but the end of the decade many formerly strong Oak Cliff churches were struggling or closing.

From the ashes of the 1960s a few speaks of renewal began, particularly in North Oak Cliff. In older Oak Cliff neighborhoods such as Winnetka Heights a new population of "urban pioneers" began to move into North Oak Cliff. Houses were cheap and these typically young couples plucked up the bargains. They renovated a number of the houses from that had been built in the 1920s and 30s.

To provide and alternative to public schools, Tyler Street Christian Academy opened in 1972. This ethnically diverse school provided quality education and grew to include an enrollment of over 500 children.

This photo of Tyler Street UMC shows the sanctuary building built in 1923 and the Tyler Street Manor (in the background) built in the 1970s.