Jim Crow Laws Research Paper

As people were living in the United States, many blacks had to face discrimination. The Jim Crow Laws enforced discrimination and established in the 1880's. These laws supported segregation, treated blacks harshly, and prevented equality between whites and blacks. The Jim Crow Laws were expected to be obeyed by everyone, it limited freedom for blacks.
During the late 19th and early 20th century, Jim Crow Laws segregated white and blacks. For example, the laws stated that whites introduced blacks, never black to white. When a black and white man met they could not shake hands because it implied being “socially equal.” Yet, if a black man were to offer to shake hands with a white woman, he was at risk of accusations of sexual assault. Also, …show more content…
For modes of transportation, if a black and white was on a car, the black had to sit in the backseat or trunk (Pilgrim.) If a black owned a car it was always at risk of destruction or being vandalized (Fremon 22.) In 1890, Louisiana was the first state to divide streetcars among black and whites. Blacks also weren’t allowed to show affection in public because it offended whites. A black man could not light the cigarette of a white woman because it implied intimacy (Pilgrim.) By 1908, states banned the marriage of a white and black (Brown.) Although the laws were limiting blacks, whites still tried to “keep them in their place.” They would often cheat them of their salary and harassed them. They justified their actions by stating that since they were white “they knew better” (Fremon 23.) Many scientists theorized that blacks were “innately intelligent” and “culturally inferior” to whites. Christian ministers believed that whites were “chosen people” and blacks were “cursed to be servants.” Also, if a black was in trial against a white then they would most likely be facing death or life in prison. While the white would have either no punishment or …show more content…
In the 1820’s an entertainer named Thomas Rice needed an act for his show. He saw an elderly black man dancing on the street and decided to mock him, but while singing a song called "Jump Jim Crow," in which he created. It’s said that the black man he saw dancing was named Jim Crow and that's how he created his title (Fremon 18.) During his act, he used charcoal paste to get his face black and wore poor, torn up clothing while dancing ridiculously (Steverson.) Due to his audience mostly being white. his act was a huge success. By the late 1800's, everyone started to refer to blacks as "Jim

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