Jim Crow Laws Essay - 1613 Words

Comedy performer Thomas â€Å"Jim Crow† Rice coined the term â€Å"Jim Crow† through his derogatory minstrel shows in which danced and sang in an offensive way towards African Americans while covered in black shoe polish. Even though Rice was only trying to entertain his audience, his performances suggested that all African Americans were ignorant useless buffoons Rice’s performances were so derogatory towards African Americans that they removed signs of humanity from them and caused people to become less compassionate towards Negroes. As a â€Å"system of laws and customs that imposed racial segregation and discrimination on Africans†, Jim Crow Laws were ubiquitous in America from the 1860’s to the 1960’s (Jim Crow Movement). These Jim Crow Laws came†¦show more content†¦During Tom Robinson’s trial, Tom is never referred to as Mr. Robinson but referred to as â€Å"Boy†, â€Å"Black Nigger†, or â€Å"That Nigger † (Lee 196). According to Jim Crow Etiquette, â€Å"Whites [do] not use courtesy titles when referring to Blacks† because courtesy titles, such as Mr., Mrs., and Ms. imply equality and respect (Pilgrim). Characters use derogatory names when referring to Tom to imply that African Americans are uncivilized beings of a lower class structure than Caucasians. Had the characters referred to Tom as Mr. Robinson, a tone of equality would have spread through the courtroom and Tom would have been judged as an equal under the law. If the all-Caucasian jury had judged the Tom Robinson case with equality, then Tom Robinson would not have been found guilty and the social hierarchy in Maycomb would have crumbled. Instead, the jury declared Tom Robinson guilty, because it does not want to disturb the social hierarchy in Maycomb. Just as African Americans were called â€Å"Niggers†, Caucasians who â€Å"associated with Blacks in a too friendly or casual manner ran the risk of be ing called a ‘Nigger lover’† (Davis). Not only were Caucasians chastising African Americans, but they were also castigating members of their fellow race because they could possibly upset the social hierarchy during Post Reconstruction America. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is berated by Caucasians in Maycomb by being called a â€Å"Nigger lover†Show MoreRelatedIs The Jim Crow Laws?962 Words   |  4 PagesThe topic that I chose for my research paper is the Jim Crow laws. I chose this topic because during this time period the Jim Crow laws were a huge obstacle that our country had to overcome in order to grow. The Jim Crow laws were created to separate whites and blacks in their everyday lives, allowing for no interaction between races. The Jim Crow Laws were enforced in the southern, United States. The laws existed between 1877 and the 1950’s, around the time the reconstruction period was ending andRead MoreJim Crow Laws766 Words   |  3 Pagesproblem with people is that many don’t like to see other ethical culture succeed. What people don’t know is that if that ethical group does not succeed then they together can not succeed as a racial community. The end of slavery but the rise of Jim Crow laws brought the acts of inequality, separation, and the mistreatment of the colored. During the end of formal reconstruction in the south in 1877, a new beginning of racial segregation began in the United States of America. â€Å"White people don’t likeRead MoreJim Crow Laws590 Words   |  2 Pagesâ€Å"The Jim Crow era was one of struggle -- not only for the victims of violence, discrimination, and poverty, but by those who worked to challenge (or promote) segregation in the South† (â€Å"Jim Crow Stories†). It is important to know the history of this significant period where everyone was treated differently based on how they looked instead of their character. During the Jim Crow era, the lives of African Americans were severely restricted making it difficult for them to succeed in everyday life. Read MoreThe Denomination For The Jim Crow Laws1230 Words   |  5 PagesThe denomination for the Jim Crow Laws first originated in the mid 1800s from a character in a Minstrel Show. The Minstrel Show was one of the first forms of American regalemen t ever engendered and took place in 1843. The exhibition was performed by successors of African American musical composition and dance routine actors. The first Minstrel Show was in Virginia and commenced by a group of four men from Virginia who all painted their faces ebony and performed a minute musical composition and danceRead MoreThe Segregation Of The Jim Crow Laws1521 Words   |  7 Pages The loud chatter of the audience at the old Park Theater in New York was for a one man show performed by Thomas Rice. To the all white audience, Jim Crow was vigorously funny. Clothed in a stable boy costume and a straw hat, his white face darkened by coal in a behaviour recognized as â€Å"blackface.† He danced and sang and even spoke in mockery of the black slang. He portrayed blacks as ignorant, greedy and foolish. Even though his act was for entertainment purposes, Thomas Rice implied through hisRead MoreThe Discrimination Of Jim Crow Laws956 Words   |  4 Pagesduring the 50à ¢â‚¬â„¢s and 60’s Americans equaled whites. Whites were the superior race and should be kept separate from those deemed inferior. This separation was perpetuated by the enforcement of Jim Crow Laws. The reactions to this segregation differed from race to race and from region to region. Jim Crowe laws were just part of life in the South. White and black children were taught from a very young age that they were not equals. Black’s knew that they would never be respected or treated the sameRead MoreThe New Jim Crow Law1014 Words   |  5 PagesMass incarceration is known as a net of laws, policies, and rules that equates to the American criminal justice system. This series of principles of our legal system works as an entrance to a lifelong position of lower status, with no hope of advancement. Mass incarceration follows those who are released from prison through exclusion and legalized discrimination, hidden within America. The New Jim Crow is a modernized version of the original Jim Crow Laws. It is a modern racial caste system designedRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Jim Crow Laws1712 Words   |  7 Pageseven some others, such as Latinos and Asians were also discriminated against, especially in the deep South. Any who had a skin color other than white were plac ed under the Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws were a set of laws that enforced racial segregation. They were much more prominent in the southern United States. These laws were created over the years of slavery, to let the blacks know where their place was in society. During the slavery years this was not necessary as both races could work sideRead MoreSlavery And Jim Crow Laws Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the early 1960s, African American people living in the United States were greatly oppressed. Slavery and Jim Crow laws, which justified segregation, were abolished; however, African Americans did not receive equal treatment, as the ideology of white supremacy, or Caucasians being the superior race, remained in tact. Since juries typically consisted of Caucasian males who favored other Caucasians, African Americans rarely received fair trials. Other factors, such as housing opportunitiesRead MoreRacial Project : Jim Crow Laws1201 Words   |  5 PagesAAS201 Oct 1, 2017 Jim Crow Laws Provided by Omi and Winant, their texts give insight to our understanding of what is a racial project. A racial project explains how â€Å"[racial dynamics] are simultaneously an interpretation, representation, and explanation† (Omi et. al 54). Racial projects offer insight how race is linked to both structure and representation by the ideology that is primarily evident by everyday practices whether it be found institutionally or individually. The Jim Crow Laws are a prominent