The History of Jim Crow Laws

Reconstruction Era:

After the civil war, black people lost in the country without living quarters, food, and any direction. That is when the reconstruction period started from 1865-1877 to rebuild the United States after the civil war. Bringing into the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment to abolish slavery, allow black men the right to vote, and prohibited depriving male citizens of equal protection of the law.

Black Codes:

The 13th amendment abolished slavery in America. Along came Jim Crow laws; the next oppression black people were referenced as Black Codes, making it impossible for black people to grow business and more under Jim Crow and Black Codes. Black Codes were mainly a way to control black people’s everyday lives and even pay them less considered indentured servitude. Even children had to work in challenging labor conditions. During the Black Codes movement, the legal system was against blacks because ex-confederate soldiers employed them. Opening doors to inhumane labor camps, especially those in prison, sentencing people of color more extensive than our white counterparts.

Jim Crow Laws:

Jim Crow were laws set in place that legalized segregation from blacks interacting with whites. Jim Crow laws weren’t just for black people but also Jewish people, catholic people, native Americans, and other minorities. That was not pure “blonde hair, blue-eyed” people who believed in Christianity. Jim Crow became blackface; this was to display black people as less than fully human. Blackface was to represent black people as lazy, ignorant, hypersexual, criminals, and servants. Under Jim Crow laws, black people were not allowed the right to vote, obtain employment, unable to get an education (i.e., the creation of HBCU), and most importantly, denied living quarters due to their race. If minorities broke these laws, they would be jailed, fined, or murdered.

Ku Klux Klan:

Formed in 1865 as a private club for Confederate veterans. The KKK turned from a private club to a terrorizing organization of people of color and other creeds that weren’t “like them.” The Klan was not only terrorizing minorities during a specific time; they were police, teachers, doctors, judges, and more. The Klan held positions of power that would put black people down or not allow them any opportunities for growth. Then to add insult to injury, they would harass and destroy black American communities.

We could keep going; this is just touching a couple of the suppression we feel like black people. If you want to learn more please follow this blog and check out a book named The Myth of Race by Robert Sussman. I will review that book and touch on more of our history here in this country. It seems that we are headed backward in time, and maybe its time for those who don’t know or forgot a reminder that history is very well repeating itself. The players and the game have changed, but the outcomes can still come out the same as before if we don’t pay attention. Since the folks say that we don’t know, we do, they just don’t think we know because as black people, taught what “they” wanted us to know. What are your thoughts on the topics above? I would love to have some more insight and dialogue with you all.

Reference:

How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism.

https://www.history.com/news/blackface-history-racism-origins

Jim Crow Laws

https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws

Reconstruction.

https://www.ushistory.org/us/35.asp

Black Codes.

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes?li_source=LI&li_medium=m2m-rcw-history