Liberty or Justice for ALL?

Did You Know?

From the 1880s to the 1960s, a majority of American states enforced segregation through "Jim Crow" laws (so called after a black character in minstrel shows). From Delaware to California, and from North Dakota to Texas.

Liberty or Justice for ALL?What is Jim Crow?These laws tightly controlled social interactions between blacks and whites and as a result, made African Americans and persons of color second-class citizens. The effects of Jim Crow were most obvious in the separate public facilities for blacks and whites, such as restrooms, drinking fountains and all forms of public transportation.

Liberty or Justice for ALL?

Jim Crow “etiquette”:• A black male could not offer his hand (to shake hands)

with a white male because it implied being socially equal. Obviously, a black male could not offer his hand or any other part of his body to a white woman, because he risked being accused of rape.

• Blacks and whites were not supposed to eat together. If they did eat together, whites were to be served first, and some sort of partition was to be placed between them.

Liberty or Justice for ALL?

• Blacks were not allowed to show public affection toward one another in public, especially kissing, because it offended whites.

• Whites did not use courtesy titles of respect when referring to blacks, for example, Mr., Mrs., Miss., Sir, or Ma'am. Instead, blacks were called by their first names. Blacks had to use courtesy titles when referring to whites, and were not allowed to call them by their first names.

Liberty or Justice for ALL?

• Jim Crow laws were explicit and often highly specific in imposing second-class citizenship on African Americans and other non-whites.

• A non-white person knew not to give eye contact to a white person