Jim+Crow

To set the stage for the civil rights movement, you must first understand the environment of segregation in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. What was life like in Jim Crow America? Cut and paste this information into a new page in your Unit 8 Online ISN. **** You (and your partner, if you have one) are African Americans who have lived through the era of Jim Crow in America. Using the links provided in this activity, respond to the “oral history questions” in first person. **

**Right after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was ratified. What did the 14th Amendment provide for African Americans? What does “due process” and “equal protection of the laws” mean?** 14th LINK

It was suppose to provide civil rights for African Americans. Since it was after the civil war it tried to give freed slaves rights."Due Process" means that the government must respect all of the legal rights that are owned to a person according to the law. "Equal protection" means that everyone in the country has the same protection and that everyone is created and are equal.

**Unfortunately, your equal rights were challenged by the Supreme Court in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. What do you remember about the facts, decision, and impact of this case?** Plessy LINK

Plessy was placed in prison for sitting in the "white" car of a train. He purposely sat in the white section, protesting the Separate Car Act. It would take a lot of courage to do that. The Supreme Court found the Louisiana segregation constitutional. Justice John Harlan saw the horrific consequences of declaring this constitutional. This decision evolved into the separate but equal doctrine which will separate whites from blacks.

important phrase: separate but equal

**The laws developed in the South became known as Jim Crow laws. Who was this Jim Crow fellow? Did he write the laws?** Jim Crow LINK

Jim Crow was a song that was sung by Daddy Rice. He was one of the first people to appear black face (wearing body make up that made him look African American). The song was to have been about an AA slave. Then this term Jim Crow began to be used as a racial name for blacks. Then by the end of the 19th century it became less used to describe blacks in general;it became known to describe laws which oppressed blacks. Then Jim Crow became a racial slur. He didn't write the laws.


 * What are some specific examples of the Jim Crow laws from southern states? How did the laws affect you?**Jim Crow Laws LINK 1 / Jim Crow Laws LINK 2 / Jim Crow Laws LINK 3

Negros and whites weren't allowed to play together-Alabama Whites couldn't marry any other racial group-Nebraska Separate school for black and white children-Missouri Train cars would be equally divided between blacks and whites-Tennessee

There were separate bathing and waiting areas for blacks and whites. Now we can't ever be with any white people. We are totally separated into our own sections which is totally weird and unfair. I really don't like this at all. It makes me feel socially non-superior(if that's a word). Also dogs, negros, and mexicans are all group together into one category. That is so DEHUMANIZING!!


 * What did Jim Crow America look like in the 1900s? What are some images that can help explain the realities of the time?** __ @Jim Crow Images LINK 1 __/ Jim Crow Images LINK 2

America was completely segregated and blacks and whites were separated. These two images really help explain the division of whites and blacks at the time.




 * What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South?**Scottsboro LINK

Nine black males were accused of raping two white women. A train broke down and all of the whites were thrown off. Everyone was male and were hobos. But there were two white women on the train who after getting kicked off may have had sexual activity with other white males. Well to cover this up they agreed to blame it on the nine black boys. They were all convicted and thrown into prison. Four were set free and one tried to escape. This is really depressing to me because of course the blacks will get blamed for it. Knowing this and that the white woman lied it really makes me nervous for all of the the black males out there. Eight convicted to death, the youngest one was not.

**What do some of your friends and family say about life in Jim Crow America? (listen to one or two)** Audio History LINK 1.

They think that Jim Crow was wrong and bad. The things that happened were really bad and unnecessary. We are all suffering from this and it's unfair.