JimCrowLife

** You and your partner 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. ** 
 * 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.** 




 * 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]

It provided us the right to be citizens. Being citizens means more rights and although we aren’t equal to the white folk, we are getting to that point. I understand that we will probably not be treated like the slave owners but at least they’re recognizing the issue. Due process means that a citizen is ensured all legal rights when they’re being deprived of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Equal protection of the laws means that even us as African Americans will be treated the same as a white person in a court case or a trial. We won’t be discriminated because of our race.

I remember that it was about an Octreen, a person who is one eighth African American. He didn't even look black. He decided to sit down on a white bus but was taken off it because he was still part African American. He believed that it violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments and it went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided that it wasn't unconstitutional. It led to the awareness of racism and the fact that something needed to be down.
 * 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]

That’s a funny question! No, Jim Crow is not a person, he’s in a song named Jim Crow. Rice, a struggling actor, saw a black person singing this song. In 1828, Rice appeared on stage as Jim Crow, a stereotypical African American. Jim Crow wasn’t the most offensive slang term but it wasn’t something you’d like to be called. Rice started to act as a black person on stage, but often depicted them as being lazy. Many Rice impersonators acted African Americans as lazy people, as well.
 * 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]


 * 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]

In Jim Crow America, African Americans and white citizens didn't do the same things in the same places. We went to different waiting rooms, bathrooms, water fountains, parking, restaurants, and schools. It made me feel unwanted. With Jim Crow laws I couldn't go to the same places as other people.

At this time, there was lynching, segregation, and hatred. There were pictures that symbolized the hatred and tension going on at the time, such as "The Agony of Lynching," which displays the hurt that people went through.
 * 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]

The Scottsboro Case is about nine black boys being falsely accused of raping two white women. I was disappointed when I heard that they killed eight innocent boys (one was too young to be prosecuted). But what do you expect; it’s the white folks against us. It wasn’t a surprise that the two women would win the court case.
 * What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South?** [|Scottsboro LINK]

They hate it. They do not think that African Americans are different.
 * What do some of your friends and family say about life in Jim Crow America ****? (listen to one or two)** Audio History LINK 1