Post-civil war prejudice
In the southern states of the USA, racism was deeply embedded in society.
Two amendments were made to the American Constitution to correct this.
14th Amendment 1868
No state shall make any law which shall reduce the rights of citizens of the United States.
15th Amendment 1870
The right of the American citizens to vote shall not be denied because of race or colour.
However, southern states continued to pass laws to keep black and white people separate. These laws became known as the Jim Crow laws.
The video below describes racial segregation in the Southern states.
The US Constitution and federal law declared that black and white people were equal. However, many southern states still passed Jim Crow Laws which promoted segregation.
This meant that white and black people had to be separated within society. The areas of society affected by this included religion, healthcare, entertainment and education.
Many of these laws were passed during the years 1870 – 1900.
There will be a separate building ...on separate ground for the admission, care, instruction and support of all blind persons of the colored or black race".
It shall be unlawful for colored people to use any park for the use and enjoyment of white persons...and unlawful for any white person to use any park for the use and benefit of colored persons".
Separate schools shall be maintained for the children of the White and colored races".
The state librarian is directed to fit up and maintain a separate place for the use of the colored people who may come to the library for the purpose of reading books or periodicals".
All marriages between a white person and a person of negro …are hereby forever prohibited".