JIM CROW

Jim Crow Laws



Jim Crow Laws

Introduction

Jim Crows laws emerged in 1876, after Reconstruction. These laws emerged because of the segregation between whites and blacks, and the Democratic Party legislated these laws. The laws consisted of segregation of public schools, public places and public transportation, restrooms and restaurants. With these laws in place, it made life hard for African Americans to survive, let alone live. Finding work was a chore in itself, especially when you're going up against the white person. Many kinds of employment, such as work in the mills, went largely to whites. Black could enter some white residents but only as servants and hired help. Blacks could bared from juries and usually received greater penalties than whites for the same crime. It was extremely dangerous if any African American to cross the color line; it usually meant violence. The chances of being whipped, beaten, and lynched were highly possibly, especially in the South. In this essay, I explore the different Jim Crow laws and their effect on African Americans in the Southern states of United States.

Discussion

One of our nation's most uncompromising leaders and most ardent defenders of democracy was Ida B. Wells. In 1884 Wells was asked to give up her seat to a white man and ordered her in the Jim Crow car. Despite the Civil Rights Act banning discrimination, the railroad companies denied the congressional mandate. Wells literally fought for her seat, biting the conductor on the hand after he tried to remove her by hand. Of course after retrieving help from other men, Wells was removed from the train. Wells conquered many obstacles and wrote many good words in the fight against discrimination.

Recognized as the nation's foremost black educator, was Booker T. Washington. Washington had big dreams and big ideas, and foremost, wanted an education. At a young age Washington took a job in a salt mine that began at 4 a.m. so he could attend school later in the day. He was later taken in by a wealthy towns-woman who encouraged him to fulfill his urge to learn. Later Washington went back to Virginia because he knew he could get an education by working to pay his way, so the head teacher admitted him after he cleaned a room to her satisfaction. So even with prejudice and discrimination at him every day, Washington still managed to fight for what he wanted ...