The Jim Crow laws were a series of state and local statutes enacted in the Southern United States from the late 19th century into the 1960s. These laws enforced racial segregation in various public facilities and institutions. Specifically, Jim Crow laws separated black Americans from white Americans in areas such as:
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Education: Schools for white students and black students were segregated, often with vastly unequal resources and opportunities.
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Transportation: Public transportation systems, including buses and trains, had separate sections for white and black passengers.
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Public Accommodations: Restaurants, hotels, parks, and other public places operated under a "whites only" policy, denying access to black individuals.
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Restrooms and Water Fountains: Separate facilities were designated for white and black people.
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Voting: Various laws and practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, were implemented to disenfranchise black voters and maintain white supremacy in the electoral process.
These laws institutionalized a system of racial discrimination and inequality that persisted for decades until the Civil Rights Movement began to challenge and eventually dismantle these legal barriers.