exam HIST 318
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UNIT1-PushFactors-ConditionsintheSouthPriortoMigration1.pptxHISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN AMERICAN CITIES
“PUSH FACTORS”: CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH PRIOR TO MIGRATION
HIST 318
THE ISSUE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
BLACKS IN PUBLIC SPACES
African Americans were victims of racial discrimination when they tried to use public transportations and accommodations
Many “whites only” businesses began to accept black patrons after blacks began to boycott and protest against their them
Proposed laws that would protect blacks from discrimination in public accommodations were blocked by most politicians
THE ISSUE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT
Constitutional amendment, which was ratified in 1870
This amendment gave African American men the right to vote
Northern black men were the amendment’s immediate beneficiaries because before its adoption, black men could vote in only eight northern states
The amendment said nothing about women or outlawing poll taxes and literacy tests
DISFRANCHISEMENT
EVADING THE 15th AMENDMENT
Southern Democrats looked for “legal” ways to prevent black men from voting
They relied on literacy tests, poll taxes and property qualifications
They also used violence to deter the black vote
DISFRANCHISEMENT
MISSISSIPPI
Changed laws to do away with the black vote
Imposed poll taxes, proof of residency, etc.
“Black crimes” (stealing, arson, bigamy, etc.) convicts could not vote; “White crimes” (murder, rape, etc.) could vote;
SOUTH CAROLINA
Followed Mississippi’s lead on preventing black voting
Changed the state constitution
DISFRANCHISEMENT
THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE
First enacted in Louisiana in 1898
Used in multiple southern states
Only men who were eligible to vote before 1867 or whose father or grandfather had been eligible to vote in 1867, would be qualified to vote
This law immediately suppressed almost all black voters
SEGREGATION
“JIM CROW”
The system of segregation that expanded in the South
Restricted blacks from using certain public facilities (stores, shops, parks, trains, hotels, etc.)
Some felt that segregation was better than exclusion
SEGREGATION ON THE RAILROADS
The first segregation laws involved passenger trains
Blacks had to ride in black passenger cars, which were dirty, and smoke filled
SEGREGATION
PLESSY V. FERGUSON (1896)
Homer Plessy, a black man who looked like a white man, was arrested after refusing to leave the “whites only” train car
Plessy sued arguing that his 14th Amendment (equal protection under the law) rights had been violated; Plessy lost his case
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court legalized segregation by establishing the “separate but equal” doctrine
SEGREGATION
STREETCAR SEGREGATION
Main mode of public transportation in most cities
Streetcar segregation resulted in protests and boycotts by the black community
Most blacks refused to ride segregated cars and chose to walk or take horse-drawn hacks
SEGREGATION PROLIFERATES
“White” and “colored” signs began to appear in public spaces (railroad stations, restrooms, drinking fountains, theaters, cemeteries, etc.)
Black facilities were inferior to white facilities
RACIAL ETIQUETTE
WHAT WERE THE RULES OF “RACIAL ETIQUETTE”?
Blacks must act in an obedient and subservient manner
Blacks and whites did not shake hands
Blacks did not look whites directly in the eye
Black men removed their hats in the presence of whites
Blacks had to use the back door when entering white homes or businesses
A black man or boy was never to look at or smile at a white woman
RACIAL ETIQUETTE
MORE RULES OF “RACIAL ETIQUETTE”
White customers were always served first in a store
Black women could not try on clothing in white-owned stores
White people did not use titles when addressing blacks (Mr., Miss, etc.)
Whites addressed black adults by their first name, or “boy” or “girl,” or nigger
Older black men were called “uncle” and older black women were called “auntie”
Black people were expected to use Mr., Mrs. or Miss when addressing whites (even white children)
VIOLENCE
THE KU KLUX KLAN
The KKK was founded in Tennessee in 1866; originally a social club for Confederate veterans
The Klan and other terrorist organizations functioned mainly where black people were a large minority and where their votes could affect the outcome of elections
In the cause of white supremacy, the Klan usually attacked those who could not defend themselves
VIOLENCE
WASHINGTON COUNTY, TEXAS (1886)
Masked Democrats tried to steal ballot boxes from a black Republican precinct
Armed black men resisted and one of the white men was killed
8 black men were arrested and 3 of them were kidnapped from jail and lynched
THE PHOENIX RIOT (1898)
Phoenix, SC
Blacks complained about not being allowed to vote
Led to an argument and shots were fired
White men went on a rampage, killing several black men
VIOLENCE
THE WILMINGTON RIOT (1898)
Wilmington, NC; election-related violence by Democrats
Local black journalist, Alex Manly, wrote about black men being falsely accused of raping white women and how black women were victims of rape at the hands of white men
This led to a deadly reign of terror and violence by white citizens
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT (1900)
Black man harassed by white police officers; cop attempts to shoot him, so he pulled out his gun and shot the cop and fled the scene
Authorities tracked him down and cornered him at a local boarding house
He was ultimately shot and stomped to death by an angry white mob
Riots ensued for 4 days, leaving many blacks injured or killed
VIOLENCE
LYNCHING
Death by hanging, by mob action, and without legal authority
Common in the South by the 1890s
Between 1889 and 1932, 3,745 people were lynched in the U.S.
Black men were usually the victims; usually accused of raping or touching a white woman
The people who carried out the lynchings were never apprehended, tried or convicted
LYNCHINGS
VIOLENCE
RAPE
White men routinely harassed and abused black women
Black men tried to keep their daughters and wives away from white men
Many white people believed that black women were promiscuous and “invited” white males to take advantage of them; no virtue
Men found guilty of raping black women were often pardoned
Black men who defended black women against white men were often injured or killed
ECONOMIC ISSUES
BLACK ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION AND SHARECROPPING
White landlords provided housing, horses/mules, tools and seeds and black farmers provided the labor
Most black farm families were sharecroppers
Sharecropping lent itself to cheating and exploitation
Black farmers who disputed landowners would be subjected to violence
Most contracts were verbal and landowners usually received ¾ of the profits
CROP LIENS
If black farmers owed a debt for food, clothing, tools and farm supplies, local merchants put a lien on the crop
The merchant would take all or part of the crop if repayment was not received
If a black farmer attempted to dispute a crop lien, he or she would be met with violence
PEONAGE
Punishment for leaving the land with debt
Farmers who were in debt could not leave the land until it was paid off
It they tried to leave, the sheriff pursued them; punishment was usually enslavement
ECONOMIC ISSUES
ECONOMIC ISSUES
WHITE RESENTMENT OF BLACK SUCCESS
Many white southerners could not tolerate black economic success
They resented black progress and lashed out with violence
Black-owned houses and cars were usually targeted
Successful blacks were often lynched, especially when they challenged white authority
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND SOUTHERN COURTS
SEGREGATED JUSTICE
All white police forces; police brutality against blacks
Blacks were rejected from jury duty in the South
Judges were white men and most lawyers were white
Blacks who used black lawyers were often found guilty and received longer sentences
Black plaintiffs, lawyers and witnesses were mistreated by court personnel
Blacks were charged with crimes more often than whites (almost always convicted)
Blacks received longer sentences for the same offense as whites
Whites were rarely found guilty for crimes against blacks
THE CONVICT LEASE SYSTEM
Existed in a number of southern states (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, etc.)
Businesses and planters leased convicts from the state to build railroads, clear swaps, pick cotton, cut timber and work mines
Convicts endured appalling treatment and conditions
They were overworked, underfed, whipped, shackled and received no medical care
Planters found the cheap labor irresistible
Some prisoners felt it was worse than slavery
Outlawed in the early 1900s
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND SOUTHERN COURTS
