Jim+Crow+Life




 * 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 Notebook. 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 . You can do this in Word by copying this document onto a new document , completing it using the resources below, and cutting and pasting it into a new page on your notebook. Make sure your responses are in first person! **

The Fourteenth Amendment was designed to provide citizenship and protection to recently freed slaves like me. "Due process" means that we cannot be convicted of a crime without being given our respective rights of law. There should be the same steps of laws. "Equal protection of the laws" means that no law shall limit the possibilities of one person without limiting the other. The government should be "colorblind."
 * 1) 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? **

After the 14th Amendment was passed, the state of Louisiana instituted a law in which no "colored" people, such as me, can not sit in the same rail car as white people. I, Homer Plessy was arrested for doing so. The Supreme Court later ruled that this law, as well as other separations of places was constitutional. In reaction, many public places were separated, such as theaters, restrooms, and schools.
 * 2) 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? **

I, Jim Crow am a stereotypical African American man who was a character in theatrical productions. I was not an actual person. I was played by a white man. I later became known as a racial slur. This was less harsh than the "n" word, but still a racial slur. This slur became to recognize the African American race as lazy, unworthy humans.
 * 3) The laws developed in the South became known as Jim Crow laws. Who was this Jim Crow fellow? Did he write the laws? **

Texas- Separate schools were provided for my children. The education is said to be equal to the white population, but everyone knows this is not true. -I cannot marry a white woman. I am limited to my choice. This is terrible.
 * 4) What are some specific examples of the Jim Crow laws from southern states? How did the laws affect you? Which one do you feel is the worst? **

“It shall be unlawful for a negro and white person to play together or in company with each other in any game of cards or dice, dominoes or checkers.”- This is terrible. Now I am not allowed to have any sort of interaction with whites.I find this to be the worst law of all.- http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/1-segregated/jim-crow.html

This is an example of how people like me are not allowed to have equal seating rights. We are treated terribly. http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm


 * 5) What did Jim Crow America look like in the 1900s? What are some images that can help explain the realities of the time? **

 In the Socttsboro Case there were nine black men accused of raping two white girls in the state of Alabama. They were found guilty by an all white jury even thought there was no evidence. When I heard that they were found guilty I was outraged. There was no way that these fine men did such a horrible thing to innocent women. It proved to me just how much us Africans Americans were hated.
 * 6) What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South? **

 This is a fine question. It is quite important because this was all going on in a generation where race defined everything. Simply by being an African American, my life was harder. I was looked down upon and hated by many. This caused people of my generation to be resistant. This resistance lead to change which effects the world greatly today. If it was not for the actions taken by people during Jim Crow America the great USA may still be run by segregation and racial inequality.
 * 7) Why should anyone care about your lilfe during Jim Crow America? **