Jim+Crow+America

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 to guarantee us blacks rights. more specifically it granted citizenship to those of us who once were enslaved.

they cannot deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

**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]

I remember that homer Plessy was sitting in a white car. He could have easily passed as a white, but under Louisiana law he was considered black. He was arrested and it went to the supreme court for violating the 13th and 14th amendment. **They found it constitutional. there can be segragation "seperate, but equal." After that everything was segragated. Schools, restaurants, and bathrooms.

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]

They are the black codes that are established. The name comes from a song saying that slaves will walk with difficulty. He then became an stereotypical black character. He would be used a a derogatory term and whites would put on black makeup and make fun it plays.

 “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.”
 * 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]

- this effected me because i was not allowed to play when i was bored with my neighbors anymore.

“Marriages are void when one party is a white person and the other is possessed of one-eighth or more negro, Japanese, or Chinese blood.”

- this effected me because i wanted to marry my man, but i am more than 1/8 black so i cant

“Separate free schools shall be established for the education of children of African descent; and it shall be unlawful for any colored child to attend any white school, or any white child to attend a colored school.”

- i want my kids to get a good education, but now they really can't.

" <span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #400000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">Blacks and Whites were not supposed to eat together. If they did eat together, Whites were to be served first, and some sort of partition was to be placed between them."

- i could not eat at my favorite diner anymore.


 * 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__ / <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Jim Crow Images LINK 2]

It was very violent and super segregated. I was punished for terrible things and everything was separated black and white.




 * What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South?** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Scottsboro LINK]

They were falsely charged with rape if two young white women. They got in a fight on the train and were kicked of and in to jail. Two women were discovered in their presence and the women said that they raped them. The boys were sentenced to death.

As a black in the south this really worries me. I can do nothing a die for it. If i am in the presence of a white i could be charged for anything.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**What do some of your friends and family say about life in Jim Crow America? (listen to one or two)** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Audio History LINK 1]

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