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The Ugly Stain: The Culture of Segregation in the South, 1890-1940

Evan Hayes

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Published in Making Whiteness: The Culture Of Segregation In The South 1890 1940

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The culture of segregation in the South from 1890 to 1940 was a dark chapter in American history. This system of legalized discrimination and separation of the races was a brutal and dehumanizing regime that denied African Americans their basic rights and freedoms. It was a system that was upheld by violence, intimidation, and the power of the state.

The Roots of Segregation

The roots of segregation in the South can be traced back to the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. During Reconstruction, the federal government attempted to protect the rights of African Americans and integrate them into American society. However, this effort was met with fierce resistance from white Southerners, who were determined to maintain their dominance over the black population.

Making Whiteness: The Culture of Segregation in the South, 1890-1940

by Grace Elizabeth Hale

4.2 out of 5

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In the late 1800s, a series of Supreme Court decisions and state laws established the legal framework for segregation. The most important of these was the 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. This doctrine allowed states to segregate public facilities, as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality. In practice, however, this was rarely the case. Black schools, hospitals, and other public facilities were typically inferior to white facilities.

The Impact of Segregation

The culture of segregation had a devastating impact on the lives of African Americans in the South. It denied them access to education, jobs, housing, and other basic necessities. It also subjected them to constant discrimination and humiliation. Segregation was a system that was designed to keep African Americans in a subordinate position and to prevent them from achieving their full potential.

One of the most visible manifestations of segregation was the system of Jim Crow laws. These laws enforced separation of the races in all aspects of public life. African Americans were forced to sit in the back of buses and trains, eat in separate restaurants, and attend separate schools. They were also prohibited from voting, serving on juries, and holding public office.

Jim Crow laws were not only demeaning and humiliating, they were also dangerous. Black people who violated these laws were often subjected to violence, intimidation, and even lynching. Between 1882 and 1968, over 4,700 African Americans were lynched in the United States.

The Challenges of Desegregation

The culture of segregation in the South was a powerful and entrenched system. Desegregating the South was a daunting task that required the courage and determination of many people. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a major turning point in the fight for desegregation. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights movement used nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to challenge the system of segregation.

The civil rights movement achieved a number of important victories, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws outlawed segregation and discrimination in public facilities and in voting. They also gave the federal government the power to enforce these laws.

The passage of these laws did not end segregation overnight. White Southerners continued to resist desegregation, and there were many instances of violence and intimidation. However, the civil rights movement had made significant progress in breaking down the system of segregation. By the end of the 1960s, segregation had been largely dismantled in the South.

The culture of segregation in the South was a shameful chapter in American history. It was a system of legalized discrimination and separation that denied African Americans their basic rights and freedoms. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s played a major role in dismantling the system of segregation. However, the legacy of segregation continues to affect American society today.

We must never forget the horrors of segregation and the struggle for civil rights. We must continue to work to ensure that all Americans have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Making Whiteness: The Culture of Segregation in the South, 1890-1940

by Grace Elizabeth Hale

4.2 out of 5