| The history of racism in the United States is | | | | But because blacks' grandfathers could not vote, |
| known to virtually everyone who resides in the 50 | | | | neither could the blacks during Jim Crow. Another |
| states, as well those people who reside outside of | | | | law instituted by many Southern states was the |
| the United States. Soon after their arrival in North | | | | literacy test, whereby voters had to be literate to |
| America, immigrant settlers began importing | | | | to vote. But because almost all blacks could not |
| slaves. Gradually, as the 13 colonies expanded and | | | | read, they were prevented from voting. |
| increasing amounts of slaves began to be brought | | | | Jim Crow laws lasted until 1965, when the |
| over from Africa, settlers began more and more | | | | Supreme Court effectively ruled them |
| attached to slavery. | | | | unconstitutional. But up until 1965, blacks had |
| Because of the importance of slavery to people | | | | endured harsh treatment from whites. Blacks |
| of the South, they were willing to secede from | | | | were lynched left and right. They were spat at, |
| the Union, as they attempted to do in 1861, | | | | hosed, and cursed at. They suffered from |
| sparking the Civil War. After the South lost the | | | | inadequate social, political, and economic |
| Civil War and had to cease slavery, however, | | | | opportunities, and all of the discrimination was |
| they were not willing to let blacks gain equal rights. | | | | institutionalized based on heavy racism that whites |
| As a result, the Southern states instituted a | | | | possessed. |
| number of racist laws discriminating against blacks. | | | | While racism has died down today and |
| These laws were called Jim Crow laws. | | | | discriminatory and racist laws and practices are |
| Jim Crow laws were first enacted in 1876. They | | | | illegal, discrimination through at least subconscious |
| sought to segregate blacks from white | | | | racism still occurs. The effects of Jim Crow laws |
| completely. Blacks and whites had different | | | | and racism have trickled down to the |
| bathrooms. They had to use different water | | | | modern-day. Blacks tend to mix and mingle for |
| fountains. They had to sit at the back of buses. | | | | the most part with another, and many people |
| As time progressed, Jim Crow laws worsened. | | | | avoid them or have prejudiced or stereotyped |
| Many Southern states passed many laws | | | | views of them based in racist beliefs. Also, blacks |
| effectively barring blacks from voting. For | | | | often face discrimination in the workplace. They |
| example, they instituted something called a | | | | sometimes get passed up in favor of whites for |
| Grandfather Clause, whereby for people to be | | | | promotion, for example. |
| allowed to vote, their grandfather had to vote. | | | | |