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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

checkerboard n.

(US) a place or neighbourhood where both black and white people live or congregate.

1960, 1975

Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

In compounds

checkerboard crew (n.)

(US) a work crew or work gang composed of black and white people.

1923		Mariner’s Mirror IX 121/2: And I have been told that the Cutty Sark carried a ‘checkerboard’ crew in 1872.
1930		‘Dean Stiff’ Milk and Honey Route 202: Checker board crew — A mixed gang of white and negro workers.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 48: checkerboard crew A mixed crew of white and dark workers.
1968		R.F. Adams Western Words (2nd edn) n.p.: Checkerboard crew — In logging, a mixed crew of white and Negro workers.
2007		D. Kent Ghost Stories and Legends of Eastern Connecticut 35: The crew onboard the Morgan was sometimes called a ‘checkerboard crew’ due to the variety of skin color — black, red and white.