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Jim Crow Laws: Plessy Vs. Ferguson

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In the late 1800’s, a series of racial policies went into effect known as the Jim Crow Laws. These laws enforced separate but equal treatment among African Americans and Whites. Established by the use of separate facilities such as, schools, hotels, restaurants, restrooms and transportation, many of us know and understand Jim Crow Laws by one word, “Segregation”. Jim Crow Laws were upheld by the government during the Plessy vs. Ferguson case and were cemented through acts of terror by the people who opposed. Although slavery had been abolished, African Americans were still stripped of their civil rights, which is intended to protect citizens from discrimination by the government and people. In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jim Crow Laws and Segregation during the trial of Plessy vs. Ferguson. Homer Plessy, the plaintiff, was considered a free white man, despite having a distant relative from Africa. He challenged segregation when he purchased a …show more content…

Ferguson case forced African Americans to feel “less than” and inferior to white people. They were reminded on a daily basis that society truly did not value them and did not consider them equal. Although segregation became illegal many years ago, the effects of Plessy vs. Ferguson are still felt today. History is destined to repeat itself and there is no doubt that it is being repeated now more than ever. It is hard to put into words the impacts that the ruling had and continues to have on society. The simple answer would be to turn on the news and watch it unfold before your eyes. Whether it be through protests or random acts of violence, a percentage of people in this country have seemed to regress and channel the hatred and emotion that the people who considered Plessy vs. Ferguson a victory had. While we may not be forcing “non-white” people to use a separate bus or bathroom, a case can be made that they are not receiving the same level of treatment that white people

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