The Stain of the Jim Crow Laws

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In the years 1877 and 1960, and all those between, the United States practiced widespread racial discrimination in the form of the Jim Crow laws (Pilgrim). Under these laws, legalized further by the court case Plessy v. Ferguson, black citizens were made second class in all forms of social and intellectual life. Members of the black community were segregated to separate and unequal establishments, suppressed by both the legal system as well as their white neighbors (“Examples of Jim Crow Laws”). The use of these laws were to support white supremacy and to ensure the “purity” of the American people (Pilgrim).

“Separate but Equal” was a term heavily used and more accepted after the case of Plessy v. Ferguson (Pilgrim). Homer Plessy of Louisiana attempted to sit in the designated “white” coach of a train, leading to his jailing and eventual court case. This was despite the fact Plessy was seven-eighths white, as even his one-eighth African American heritage labeled him as a colored citizen. He was found guilty in his first case and it was taken to the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Again, the ruling was against Plessy which found him guilty for refusing to sit in his “proper” car (Cozzens). This fueled the efforts located mainly in the Southern and border states to segregate black Americans. The ruling was decided with a majority of seven votes, Justice John Harlan being one of the only to vote against. He was later quoted in saying that “Our Constitution is color-blind” and agreed that “In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal”. Harlan could clearly see the magnitude such a decision would make through the country, as this would “stimulate aggressions” (Cozzens).

Thanks to the ruling, widespread separation occurred betwee...

... middle of paper ...

...aws in American history serves as a reminder of the days not so long ago where African Americans reverted back to their second class citizen station.

Works Cited

Cozzens, Lisa. "After the Civil War: Plessy V. Ferguson." Watson. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

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"Examples of Jim Crow Laws." University of Dayton's Faculty Web Server. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. .

"Jim Crow Laws." Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

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"Origin of 'Jim Crow'" American Studies. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

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Pilgrim, Dr. David. "What Was Jim Crow?" Ferris State University. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

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