Jim Crow Laws were used to divide whites and blacks. Due to this, this event involved blacks and whites. Some of the other minorities besides blacks were discriminated against also, but mainly Jim Crow Laws dealt with the segregation of blacks from whites. The legal segregation of blacks from whites, or Jim Crow Laws, began in 1890 and ended in 1965. My focus for this site is 1945-1965. During this time is when the racial tension between blacks and whites was at an all time high. This is also when having Jim Crow Laws became very dangerous for blacks. Blacks began to fear for their safety when doing everyday tasks, such as walking down the street. Even if they had committed no crime, blacks were often arrested on false charges and accusations. It also was not uncommon for blacks to be beaten to death or lynched for almost no apparent reason, or because they decided to use a white-only facility. Often, the people who committed these crimes, whites, were never convicted or charged for any of the crimes they committed.
The Southern states in the U.S. were the only states where Jim Crow Laws were legal. In the Northern States they did not have any laws that legalized segregation like Jim Crow Laws did, but that did not mean that the northern states were discrimination free. Many blacks in the northern U.S. were still discriminated against and sometimes segregated from whites even though segregation was illegal. No matter what part of the U.S. they were in, the human rights of blacks were being violated. Many times, blacks would receive fractions of the pay that a white would for occupying the same jobs. That is contingent on if they were able to find a job that was willing to hire a colored person. This form of discrimination was more of a problem in the southern states. The only option that many colored people had was to move. The farther north that blacks moved, the safer they became. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida had some of the biggest problems with Jim Crow Laws.
The Southern states in the U.S. were the only states where Jim Crow Laws were legal. In the Northern States they did not have any laws that legalized segregation like Jim Crow Laws did, but that did not mean that the northern states were discrimination free. Many blacks in the northern U.S. were still discriminated against and sometimes segregated from whites even though segregation was illegal. No matter what part of the U.S. they were in, the human rights of blacks were being violated. Many times, blacks would receive fractions of the pay that a white would for occupying the same jobs. That is contingent on if they were able to find a job that was willing to hire a colored person. This form of discrimination was more of a problem in the southern states. The only option that many colored people had was to move. The farther north that blacks moved, the safer they became. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida had some of the biggest problems with Jim Crow Laws.
1945-1965
During this time period, the discrimination against blacks was very high. Although there were some events that put in motion an end to the Jim Crow Laws, most were ineffective. For example, an order was signed in 1948 to desegregate the armed forces. Although blacks and whites were allowed to mix, this didn't really change anything. Blacks were still treated horribly and as if they were less than whites.
In the southern states, Jim Crow Laws had a big effect on the kids of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. A black man named Hosea Williams grew up during this period in Georgia. Williams served in the U.S. army during the war. While in uniform, Williams was almost beaten to death by a group of whites. This was the result of him trying to drink out of a whites-only drinking fountain. This tragic event that occurred caused Williams to join the Civil Rights Movement where he would go on to fight for the abolishment of Jim Crow Laws and the desegregation of the Southern United States. Williams recalls the events of his recovery in the following quote. "I lay in the hospital for eight weeks wishing that Adolf Hitler had won the war." This is the direct result of legal segregation because of Jim Crow Laws. Williams lost all of the pride that he once had in being an American soldier. Hosea Williams died in 2000 and until the day he died he continued to fight for the human and civil rights of blacks to be restored.
Hosea Williams was not the only person in the southern part of the U.S. that had a horrible experience with Jim Crow Laws. In 1945-1965 it became very common for blacks to be beaten or even killed for not using colored-only facilities. Everyday during this time period it was dangerous to be black in America. Jim Crow Laws in the southern states caused the migration of many blacks to the northern part of the U.S.
In the southern states, Jim Crow Laws had a big effect on the kids of the 40's, 50's, and 60's. A black man named Hosea Williams grew up during this period in Georgia. Williams served in the U.S. army during the war. While in uniform, Williams was almost beaten to death by a group of whites. This was the result of him trying to drink out of a whites-only drinking fountain. This tragic event that occurred caused Williams to join the Civil Rights Movement where he would go on to fight for the abolishment of Jim Crow Laws and the desegregation of the Southern United States. Williams recalls the events of his recovery in the following quote. "I lay in the hospital for eight weeks wishing that Adolf Hitler had won the war." This is the direct result of legal segregation because of Jim Crow Laws. Williams lost all of the pride that he once had in being an American soldier. Hosea Williams died in 2000 and until the day he died he continued to fight for the human and civil rights of blacks to be restored.
Hosea Williams was not the only person in the southern part of the U.S. that had a horrible experience with Jim Crow Laws. In 1945-1965 it became very common for blacks to be beaten or even killed for not using colored-only facilities. Everyday during this time period it was dangerous to be black in America. Jim Crow Laws in the southern states caused the migration of many blacks to the northern part of the U.S.
Human rights violated
Democracy (#21)
Don't Discriminate (#2)
We're all free and equal (#1)
Equal before the law (#6)
Workers Rights (#23)
- Voting was impossible for blacks because they couldn't pass the literacy test needed to vote. These tests were only required for blacks and this was legal due to Jim Crow Laws
Don't Discriminate (#2)
- The whole ideology behind Jim Crow Laws was to legalize the segregation of blacks from whites. This whole process is discriminating against blacks solely because of the color of their skin, which is a clear violation of human right
We're all free and equal (#1)
- During this time period, slavery was abolished and no longer legal. So, technically, blacks were free according to the law. However, they were not seen as equal. The facilities and materials for blacks were not even close to the amazing quality of the facilities and materials that the whites had access to in everyday life. Blacks did not receive equal treatment by law enforcement or the courts. They were seen as inferior whites.
Equal before the law (#6)
- Blacks were obviously not seen as equal to whites in the eyes of the law because the law was what made all of these human rights violations legal. The law is what made it legal to discriminate against blacks. It made it very clear to blacks that they were not viewed as equals to whites.
Workers Rights (#23)
- Blacks were often discriminated against in the work place and or prevented form receiving a position due to their skin color. Many jobs were specifically advertised as whites only, so blacks didn't even have the option to apply.
Social Security (#22)
Rights Protected by Laws (#8)
- Everyone has the right to feel safe in their everyday life. Jim Crow Laws made it impossible for blacks to feel safe walking down the streets, or even in their own homes. Therefore, it would be insane for anyone to believe that any black person felt safe during their everyday life.
Rights Protected by Laws (#8)
- The law didn't protect the human rights of blacks. It did the exact opposite, it took away their rights.
why did jim crow laws happen?
Tensions were very high between blacks and whites post civil war and after the abolishment of slavery in 1865. The lion share of white citizens in the U.S. still wanted to separate from the blacks. Whites also wanted to maintain their social class or position and they wanted to continue to be higher above the blacks. Even though slavery was illegal, they still had the same ideology that they had during slavery. They did not see themselves as equal to blacks, period. The discrimination was already happening, all the Jim Crow Laws accomplished was to make the discrimination and segregation legal so the whites were no longer breaking the law. Jim Crow Laws were already in effect before the period of 1945-1965. They continued because many people were not ready or they were afraid of change.