Jim+Crow+Life



**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] The 14th ammendment granted citizenship and protect liberties of people who used to be slaves. "Due process" means that no one can deny their legal rights. "Equal protection of the laws" means that every person is treated the same by the government.

**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] Homer Plessy was jailed because he sat in a white car in Louisiana. Under the law he was African American but his skin was very light. He did it wanningly to challenge the law. The case went to the supreme court. Plessy's lawyer said the law violated the constitution. When Plessy lost, it set the standard that seperate facilities in public for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal." SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.

**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] Thomas Rice heard an African American sing a song about Jim Crow. He performed the song dressed as a stereotypical African American named Jim Crow. Jim Crow became a name for blacks. It became know as the name of the laws.

In some states Blacks couldn't even play with whites. Also, blacks and Asians were not allowed to marry whites. Public schools were made for blacks so we couldn't go to school with everyone else. I was not able to show any form of affection to whites and I couldn't eat with them either. In some places, I couldn't even shake a white's hand! I also wasn't allowed to act smarter than a white person or say they were lying. And I had to use and go to different public facilities and places because of the color of my skin.
 * 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]

People would have to escort African Americans off train cars and out of buildings, there were lynchings, there were seperate public places for blacks, and there were "colored" waterfountains.
 * 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]

9 African American boys who rode freight cars were falsely accused of raping 2 wihte girls. Eight were sentenced to death but it was overturned and four were in prison for life. This made me feel like we had no say in accused crimes in the south.
 * What happened in the Scottsboro Case? How did it make you feel as an African American in the South?** [|Scottsboro LINK]

**What do some of your friends and family say about life in Jim Crow America? (listen to one or two)** [|Audio History LINK 1] MY COMPUTER DIDNT PLAY THE NARRATIVES