JIM CROW Emancipation was not enough

1. JIM CROWEmancipation was not enough

2. WARNING Some of the images in this presentation are graphic. I will try to warn you ahead of time about images that may be disturbing.

3. What was Jim Crow? • Jim Crow was a set of laws designed to keep African Americans as second class citizens. • Jim Crow laws represented the legalization of Racism. • These laws were in place between 1877 and as recent as the mid 1960’s • The harshest Jim Crow laws were established in the southern United States.

4. What was Jim Crow (cont.) • Jim Crow laws operated under the belief that Whites were superior to African Americans in all ways including intelligence, morals, and civilized behavior. • Some Ministers, Politicians, Teachers, Writers etc. reinforced these laws and beliefs and often referred to African Americans as Niggers, Coons, and Darkies, among other racial slurs.

5. Example Jim Crow Laws • Education: Schools for white children and schools for negro children shall be conducted separately. • Buses: All passenger stations in this state operated by any motor transportation company shall have separate waiting rooms or space and separate ticket windows for the white and colored races. • Prisons: The warden shall see that the white convicts shall have separate apartments for both eating and sleeping from the negro convicts

6. Jim Crow Signs

7. Jim Crow Etiquette Beyond the actual Jim Crow laws African Americans had to act in a certain manner around Whites often referred to as Jim Crow Etiquette. A few examples of Jim Crow Etiquette: • A Black male could not shake hands with a White male because it implied being socially equal. • A Black male could not shake hands with a White woman because he risked being accused of rape. • Blacks were not allowed to show public affection toward one another, especially kissing, because it offended Whites. • White motorists had the right of way at all intersections.

8. Black Codes Stetson Kennedy, the author of Jim Crow Guide, offered these rules that African Americans were supposed to follow around Whites (often referred to as Black codes): • Never assert that a White person is lying • Never impute dishonorable intentions to a White person • Never suggest that a White person is from an inferior class • Never lay claim to superior knowledge or intelligence • Never curse a White person • Never laugh at a White person • Never comment on the appearance of a White female

9. Violence during the Jim Crow Era African Americans who did not abide by the Jim Crow laws faced dangerous consequences. • Lynching: mob violence against African Americans, capital punishment without the sanction of law, and ritualized torture. • During the Jim Crow era many African Americans were lynched for disobeying or rebelling against the Jim Crow Laws. • Many of these lynchings occurred in what was referred to as the Red Summer of 1919. That year alone there were 90 lynchings. • Many courageous African Americans and Whites rebelled against these laws, but the threat of violence kept the Jim Crow system in place.

10. Warning: Images May Be Disturbing!

12. But Wait I thought Jim Crow was a person? • The name Jim Crow actually came from a song from a popular minstrel show. • Minstrel shows featured White actors who smeared their faces with “black face” (burned cork). • These actors traveled around towns and cities doing a sort of song and dance show. These shows became popular entertainment in many southern towns. • These shows portrayed African Americans as dumb, obedient, and lazy. Thus creating negative depictions or caricatures of African Americans.

14. Other Stereotypes of African Americans during Jim Crow Minstrel shows were not the only ways that African Americans were stereotyped during this time. • Many negative caricatures of African Americans were depicted in books, magazines, cartoons, television shows, movies etc. • Caricature: An outrageously distorted and inferior image • Negative portrayals include: The Brute or the Mammy, among others. Today, people use these terms offensively or sometimes without knowing what they mean.

15. Example 1:

16. Example 2: • The Picaninny was portrayed as African American children who were dirty, wide mouthed, buffoon children. • They were often depicted eating watermelon and getting chased and eaten by alligators.

17. Example 3:

18. Example 4: • African American women were often portrayed as hyper sexual, seductive, and promiscuous.

19. Example 5: • The Mammy was portrayed as a heavy set woman who is always smiling and laughing. • She is a loyal servant to her White family (the family she works for), but almost totally ignores her African American family. • Before Jim Crow this caricature was often used to justify slavery.

20. Example 6: • Golliwogs were grotesque creatures with jet-black skin, large white eyes, and red or white clown lips

21. Example 7: • The Coon was portrayed as a childish adult who was easily frightened, stupid, and unable to speak intelligently

22. Example 8: • During Jim Crow and beyond these African American stereotypes and caricatures showed up in popular children’s cartoons. (including the original Elmer Fudd)

23. FOR MORE INFORMATION • Jim Crow Museum website: http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/menu.htm • The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow PBS website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/

24. Jim Crow’s Legacy • What influence did the Jim Crow laws have on the Civil Rights Movement? • What influence did the Jim Crow laws have on Segregation especially in the schools? • How do you think Jim Crow affected the Little Rock Nine? • Do you think Jim Crow has any influence or effect on modern racial issues?