Segregation In America

About a hundred years after the Civil War, almost all American lived under the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow Laws actually legalized segregation. These racially enforced rules dominated almost every aspect of life, not to mention directed the punishments for any infraction. The key reason for the Jim Crow Laws was to keep African Americans as close to their former status as slaves as was possible. The following paper will show you the trials and tribulations of African Americans from the beginning through to the 1940’s where segregation was at its peak.

The Jim Crow Law was based on the idea of “Separate but Equal” which impacted the African American people and challenged the Supreme Court’s efforts to give true equality for all. The idea “Separate but Equal” arose after the abolishment of slavery and birth of the Fourteenth Amendment. This new Amendment gave every citizen equal rights no matter the race. However, because of the spread of white resistance, segregation was used to keep the two races separated physically, socially and culturally. But the Plessy v. Ferguson case caused ⅞ % to be the lowest amount of white in a person to be socially considered white. Segregation not only impacted the black, but also biracial people because of this percent standard. Separated facilities such as

The Strange Career of Jim Crow by C. Vann Woodward explains the development of Jim Crow Laws starting in the period of Reconstruction until its legal demise in 1965. The book puts an argument against the question whether or not segregation had been around before the civil war, and argues that segregation had not always been that way. Before the Civil War, a close proximity was crucial between the societies in the South to maintain white supremacy above blacks. After the Civil War, a period known as Reconstruction began the physical separation of the blacks and whites to maintain white supremacy by keeping blacks and whites separated in physical facilities like schools, bathrooms, and all types of transportation. Although there was a physical separation between blacks and whites, there was not any kind of social strife between the races until the Compromise of 1877 and the forcible integration of the races. The period after Reconstruction began the push to set in laws known as Jim Crow Laws to legally separate the races, but because of the certain laws poor whites were also affected by things like literacy tests and poll taxes. The total effect of the Jim Crow Laws only benefited white elites like before the Civil War. Woodward breaks up his book between the different phases Jim Crow went through and explains the different reactions people took towards the growing segregation.

The Jim Crow laws perpetuated segregation. This set of rules to show the dominance of the white race were absolutely appalling. They were mainly operated in the southern portion of the United States, but not exclusively. The Jim Crow laws “were in place from the late 1870’s until the civil rights movement began in the 1950’s” (“Jim Crow Laws”). Blacks and whites could not use the same drinking fountains, restrooms, or attend the same restaurants, churches, and schools. It was considered rape or an unwanted advance for a black man to offer his hand to a white woman. Another law was that african-american couples could not show affection towards each other in a public area because it “offended whites” (Pilgrim) along with countless more. There

This led to Segregation, Which enforced separation of Blacks and whites. They made the Jim crow laws to enforce the separation. Almost everything was separated, even cemeteries. Even though they knew it was wrong, the courts upheld these laws as legal. An example is the Plessy versus Ferguson case, which Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in a white only car.

It lessened the ability of many to succeed, control their own lives, and view themselves as equal human beings. Individuals were harmed mentally, emotionally, and sociologically by the legislation created during the Jim Crow Period, and societies were unable to bridge the gap between the two races from of a lack of understanding and interaction, caused by these laws. Racial segregation was injurious to all of America, not only those who were individually affected. All aspects of racial segregation-political, social, and economic- hurt individuals, society, and America as a

The Jim Crow laws perpetuated segregation. The laws were harsh constraints for African Americans, placed in the southern United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which promoted separation of races publicly. As stated by Pilgrim, “Plessy gave Jim Crow states a legal way to ignore their constitutional obligations to their Black citizens” (Pilgrim 3). These laws were passed to reaffirm dominance of Caucasian descendants by withholding civil rights to African Americans. According to author David Pilgrim, “Jim Crow states passed statutes severely regulation social interactions between the races” (Pilgrim 3). Examples of the restraints placed by the laws were the right for Blacks to vote, attend school together, and

After the Reconstruction Era ended, federal troops were removed from the South, and when they were gone white southerners began to start segregation among the African Americans.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was an important act that was passed. It is the nation's premier civil rights legislation. Even though there were three amendments having to do with ending slavery, people still treated minorities unfairly until the act was passed. The federal government had to do something because of all of the conflict that was happening. It deeply affected American society.

The redlining practices of the Federal Government established economic segregation in San Antonio. Denying minorities access to federally backed home loans put them at an economic disadvantage when it comes to accumulating wealth. This also creates a cycle of poverty and crime in those neighborhoods.

Jim Crow Laws of segregation made black people less important and unworthy. On the other hand white people were looked at as superior and better. For example in Missouri black and white students had to go to different schools. Schools for white students were cleaner and nicer than schools for black students. Also, in areas where whites were only allowed, some signed said, “White only,” and “no pets.” This lowered black people down to the same level as animals bellow white people. Finally, drinking fountains were segregated for black people and white people. The water that was left over from the white drinking fountains would go into the black drinking fountain, giving them dirty, used water to drink from. In conclusion, black people didn’t

When discussing the bases of a well functioning society, the environment and residential area plays a crucial role. I chose the article, “How segregated are middle class blacks?”, and in this in depth article, the main focus is on the long-standing brawl between blacks living out of “ghetto” residential environments. Compared to their counterparts, middle class whites are usually stationed in better living conditions, granted they earn the same amount of income as a middle class black individual. This article does not only touch base on the institutional discrimination within the middle class community, but also race and poverty in middle class America.

During the first site of segregation to its last days, many White establishments like schools were far superior to Black schools and establishments (“Racism Timeline”). Segregations is a disadvantage to both races because it creates feelings of degradation among blacks and raises prejudice in whites (“Racism Timeline”). Whites and Blacks had separate hotels, railroad cars, restaurants, water fountains, and schools. There was no particular reason for this. Before Civil rights acts were passed, blacks did not have the right to vote, own property, to contract or sue, and no testifying against whites, these are basic rights that someone who acquires citizenship to The United States of America earns. Blacks were treated like they were not even citizens of the country. These acts were called Black Codes or Jim Crow laws, and were mainly in the South (“The Advent of the Jim Crow”). These laws sprouted so quickly in the South because of the Civil War. After the Civil War, there was the reconstruction where racism intensifies.

According to the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, blacks had the same legal protection as whites. The Supreme Court contradicted this when they allowed so called “restrictions” in the South against blacks. Those who supported Jim Crow generally lived in the South. They believed that whites were above the blacks, in things ranging from intelligence to morality. They thought sexual relations between the two races would ruin the nation, and violence could be used on blacks if needed. So, hospitals, beaches, parks, prisons, public restrooms and even water fountains were separated by color of skin. In certain areas, there weren’t even facilities for colored people (Pilgrim). African Americans also had to treat whites with respect, whereas whites did not have to, and most of the time would not treat the blacks the same. Blacks had to use titles when speaking to whites, they could not eat with the whites, and black men could not offer to shake a white mans hand. Preachers did not help with the problem, but in some situations made it worse. They would preach that God supported segregation, “the whites were the chosen people, and Blacks were servants” (Pilgrim).

The Jim Crow laws has had a major influence on the United States based on how much harm than good it did during its time. The Jim Crow laws were in favor of white people more than black, in state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. This in turn caused more harm than good because black people had so many restrictions on what the can do while living in the US. The Jim Crow laws were based on segregation of public schools, public places, and public transportation, and the segregation of restrooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains for whites and blacks. The U.S. military was also segregated. The Jim Crow laws caused white to feel superior to black while black thought they were inferior.