AP+Jim+Crow+Laws

Historical: Alli Griffin In the late 1800's and early 1900's, colored men and women were victim to racial segregation. Colored men and white men were not considered equal in this time frame, and thus laws were created to keep them separate. These "Jim Crow Laws" were adopted by many states, "Southern states began systematically to codify (or strengthen) in law and state constitutional provisions the subordinate position of African Americans in society" (Davis). The Southern states were coming together to discriminate and take legal action against the colored populations. Most of these laws that were being adopted were used to separate the black and white communities, this action is historically significant to this time. It is significant because it shows the start of an era of racial discrimination. The Jim Crow Laws were the start of racial segregation in the United States' history. At the time, these laws were supported by the white community. It was a "social norm" in the 1900's, people accepted that skin color determined someone's position in society. However, despite the "normalcy" of this situation, many fought it, " Many Blacks resisted the indignities of Jim Crow, and, far too often, they paid for their bravery with their lives" (Pilgrim). The riots and fights were momentous. The fact that blacks were fighting this "social norm" was history in the making. Afterwards, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks would follow with their acts against the discrimination. And eventually, the end to legal discrimination of colored and white men.

Pilgrim, Dr. David. //What Was Jim Crow?// Ferris State University. September 2000.Website. 24 August 2011.

Davis, Ronald. //From Terror to Triumph: Historical Overview.// History of Jim Crow.Website. 24 August 2011.

Cultural: Hunter Kennedy The Jim Crow Laws were in place after the end of the Civil War, when reconstruction was occurring. Slavery had been outlawed but that did not mean that the culture during that time was ready to accept black people into all aspects of society. The Jim Crow laws were this acceptation that culture was not going to easily transition towards equality. The laws specified, and allowed segregation to still be prominent because the people at that time believed that separation was a norm. One of the unequal treatments that these laws allowed were signs, and the Smithsonian writes “ They were constant and humiliating reminders with a common message—“stay in your place'” (Jim Crow Laws). The use of the words “constant” and “common” shows that the laws were a normal part of daily life; it was the culture during the time period. And thus, separate but equal was a defining motto of the era surrounding the JimCrow Laws. Just as the culture then was uncomfortable with integrating black and whites, our culture now still possesses some racism. Yet our culture was impacted for the better because these laws are no longer present, and now lawmakers realize that separate but equal is not a plausible statement or fair mindset. Now there is more focus on what the country is really about and the culture is more tolerate. John F. Kennedy characterized our culture and ideals by writing, " This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal; and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened" (Jim Crow Laws). Jim Crow laws were unfortunate and causes suffering, but the culture of the past, developed our current culture and helped America to realize that discrimination is wrong.

//Jim Crow Laws//. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Website. 24 August 2011. //Jim Crow Laws.// Spartacus Educational. Website. 25 August 2011. Caption: "For the sunny South. An airship with a 'Jim Crow' trailer." "Political cartoon satirizing Southern Jim Crow laws." Image. Library of Congress. // American History //. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 26 Aug. 2011.

Aim: Chantal Pelzer

Jim Crow Laws were the name of a series of rules made to discriminate Blacks after the period of Reconstruction. They were set up as a means of segregation between Blacks and Whites. The aim was to put Blacks below Whites and degrade them as an entire race. Everything from serving in the military, to drinking at a water fountain was to be separated. There was even a //Jim Crow Guide// (created by Stetson Kennedy) that Blacks were expected to observe when conversing with Whites. One of the rules states, “Never lay claim to, or overly demonstrate, superior knowledge or intelligence” (Stetson) This quote alone shows the obvious purpose to discriminate Blacks from Whites. By saying the word //never// it makes it clear this is something that must //never// be broken or even questioned. Another section from the actual Jim Crow Laws even states, “A Black male could not offer his hand (to shake hands) with a White male because it implied being socially equal. Obviously, a Black male could not offer his hand or any other part of his body to a White woman, because he risked being accused of rape” (What Are Jim Crow Laws). This law explicitly states a Black person could never be considered socially equal, even going as far as to making a simple gesture towards a White women a possible criminal offense.

Eventually this law was, of course, were put to rest. However, its affect still has a bit of a sour affect on our society to this day.

Pilgrim, Dr. David. //What Was Jim Crow?// Ferris State University. September 2000.Website. 24 August 2011.

Kennedy, Stetson. Jim Crow Guide: The Way It Was. Boca Raton: Florida Atlantic University Press, 1959/1990, pp.216-117.

"Racist Media." Image. Museum of Racist Memorabilia. Ferris State University. Web. 26 Aug. 2011 Audience:

Audience: Taylor Rosenow Jim Crow Laws were a large part of Southern life when they were passed and enforced. Their creation separated the people of past Confederate states. They were the line of segregation that separated African Americans from whites from the end of the Civil War until the mid-1950s. (Jim Crow Laws) They were aimed towards both African Americans and whites in order to establish separate rights and ways of living. ABC-CLIO, a prominent history source, states “Jim Crow was the name for a system of laws and customs that imposed racial segregation and discrimination on African Americans” (Jim Crow Movement). These laws targeted the “African Americans” of America by forcing them to obey strict ways of living. They were restricted in nearly every daily activity, and faced brutal violence and harsh consequences if they attempted to ignore these laws. The laws were also aimed toward the white public in the South.The author notes, “ By 1885, every former Confederate state had passed some type of restrictive law, encompassing many areas that were to be segregated” (Jim Crow Movement). The “restrictive” actions were taken in the former states of the Confederacy, and the entire public was expected to abide by them. Common places, like bathrooms and restaurants, were under the influence of Jim Crow Laws. Therefore, all of society who used these public places faced the affect of the laws day after day. The laws were designed to separate the two races, and to do so they had to aim their power at both African Americans and the white people of the South.

//Works Cited// // "Jim Crow laws." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.// // "Jim Crow movement." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.