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]

The Fourteenth Amendment was signed after the civil war. This Amendment garunteed civil rights for African Americans. Once African Americans were enslaved it garunteed citizenship. Due process talks about that no African American can be enslaved. They must follow the law or if they don't they will face severe consequences.

**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]

Although the man was black, he used his getaway white complexion to sit in a white car. He was jailed and then told that he had to go into a colored car. He argued that he had Spanish and French Ancestors but the Court says that just because his ancestor's races and ethnicities were different, doesn't mean that you are them. The court told him that since he was Black he had to accept who he was. However, later in 1892 the Black Civil Rights Organization argued with the court. Then again in 1896, the Court decided that this was unconstitutional desegregation.

**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] Some people say that he was not a real person. They say it was a song written about segregation and civil rights. It was written by Thomas Dartmouth. Others say that he was either a black stable boy or a Black slave who faced many hardships. Jim Crow did not write these laws about civil rights. It was a saying used to oppress Blacks during the time.


 * What are some specific examples of the Jim Crow laws from southern states? How did the laws affect you?** / [|Jim Crow Laws LINK] / 

Jim Crow Law 1- A Black person and a white person are not allowed to play dominoes, checkers, or chess, or any other games with each other. I used to have a best friend that was white before the Jim Crow Era had begun. Ever since then we haven't been able to play with each other or even see each other.

Jim Crow Law 2- It is illegal for a White man/woman to marry a 1/8th Japanese, Chinese, or Negro race. My friend had loved a Japanese woman but could not marry her because of the law. They were at one time good friends until their separation.

Jim Crow Law 3- There will be segregated schools. No white child will go to any colored school and visa versa. My cousin when he walks to school hears remarks about his skin and color. He is a little boy so it will be hard for him to cope with this.


 * 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]

There is an image that represents my life. I also had to give up my seat for a white man and his family. I find it humiliating and disgraceful. What difference does it make to sit in the back rather than the front? What significance does it have? If I could get away with saying this I would say it. We are all humans.


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

9 black youths were falsely charged of raping 2 white women. Although this was not true, a fight between white and black hobos led up to this, and once the white hobos warned the railroad officials, they threw the black hobos in jail. Later, two white women stated that they were raped by these 9 black hobos. As an African American in the South i really am disappointed in my race for not acting, and also disappointed in our unfair and brutal treatment. I really want to crawl out of my dark skin right now and swap skins.

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