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Chapter 1: The Rebirth of Caste

The Birth of Jim Crow

Many arguments are addressed as an attempt to widen the understanding of the new caste system which was being created after the Reconstruction Era. Michelle Alexander provides historical background to deepen the understanding of where and why the caste system formed. After African American’s were given legal rights, many white supremacists fought back for restoration. As stated by Michelle Alexander, “Once again, vagrancy laws and other laws defining activities such as ‘mischief’ and ‘insulting gestures’ as crimes were enforced vigorously against blacks." ^[1] Laws were being passed in attempt to cement African American’s in a situation where rights could be stripped form them completely. According to Alexander, after these laws were deemed a success, the radical philosophy was presented and gained the attention of many African American’s as it promised protection and was eventually successful, “The Populists made strides toward racial integration, a symbol of their commitment to class-based unity." ^[2] African American’s looked to the philosophy as it had potential to aid them in their quest for equality. Although the philosophy was successful, the push made many whites to rightfully discriminate seeped through and African American’s were placed in the position that they were formally in yet again. As specified by Michelle Alexander, new laws were formed that went against blacks in the South, “Every state in the South had new laws on the books that disenfranchised blacks and discriminated against them in virtually every sphere of life." ^[3] African American’s remained in the lower class as put there by those who were against their right to freedom. Not only was discrimination and segregation recognized by many, it was considered a must as it became very common. Michelle Alexander states how the law was completely against African American’s and their freedom, “Politicians competed with each other by proposing and passing ever more stringent, oppressive, and downright ridiculous legislation (such as laws specifically prohibiting blacks and whites from playing chess together)." ^[4] The new racial caste system became not only a law, but what seemed to be an everyday ritual that African American individuals had to go through just to get through the day. Alexander explains how the new caste system was a complete fallback to what the Reconstruction Era had fought for.

Caste

United States

After the Reconstruction Era, which took place during 1865-1877, a caste system was in the making which would force African American’s back into situations that existed before the Civil War. The caste system began with the majority of the white population of the South wanted to keep Blacks in the lower class. The name “Jim Crow” was a way of characterizing Black people back in the early nineteenth century.^[5] After a long fought war, African American’s were still subjected to laws made by the White South that segregated the races.^[6] These new laws affected the daily lives of many African Americans men and women in the South.^[7] What followed were the makings of a caste system which would place African American’s at the lower end of society. The separation of the races usually meant total exclusion of African American men and women from certain facilities.^[8] The two races used different bathrooms, churches, saloons, parks, schools, and public buses to keep it separate but equal, which was how many whites viewed the situations.^[9] The racial caste system segregated the races so that they barely needed to make contact with one another.

Racial Segregation

United States

After laws were passed that segregated African American’s and Whites, the lives of those who were negatively affected saw no progress in their quest for equality. Racial segregation was not a new occurrence as most African Americans had been under slavery before the Civil War.^[10] The laws passed segregated African American’s to Whites. Signs were used to show African Americans where they could, under legal protection, walk, talk, drink, rest or eat.^[11] For those places that were racially mixed, African American’s had to wait until all other White customers were dealt with first.^[12] Rules were also enforced that restricted African American’s from entering white stores.^[13] The racial segregation effected the lives of African American’s significantly as they were not granted equality.