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] My14th Amendment provides citizenship and protection to all enslaved African Americans like me. "Due Proccess is the list of things the government must do for all citizens. "Equal protection of the laws" means that all people of any race or age are treated equally.

**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 this case quite well. Homer Pleasy was arrested for sitting in a "white" car. He could easily pass as a white person, but he had some black ansestors so he was bared up. This case made it so different facilities for different races were allowed, as long as they were equal. Separate but equal.

**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] Jim Crow was not a real person. The Jim Crow character was really a white actor, by the name of Rice, who dressed up as a foolish, typical, stupid African American. He did not write laws. All he did was perform plays.

Here are some specific examples of some Jim Crow laws. . . “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.” “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.” “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.”
 * 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]

These laws affected me because I could no longer play with my good white friend Billy. Also, I couldn't go the school of my choice and ended up going to a worse school than I would've liked. Another thing is that I couldn't go to my town hospital because it was only for whites. It took a long time to heal my broken arm.

Segregated water fountains Segregated wells Lynchings
 * 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]

In the Scottsboro Case 9 black innocent men were accused of raping two white women. The nine men did not do it, but since white people said they did the crime they were punished. It made me feel unsafe, to think that any white person could easily accuse me for anthing at any time.
 * What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South?** [|Scottsboro LINK]

**What do some of your friends and family say about life in Jim Crow America? (listen to one or two)** [|Audio History LINK 1] The audio didn't work. ..