Journal: What might you think of when you hear the phrase “separate but equal”?

Plessy vs. Ferguson(1896)

Origins of the Case In 1892, Homer Plessy took a seat in the “Whites Only” car of a train and refused to move. He was arrested, tried, and convicted in the Louisiana district court for breaking segregation law. In 1892, Homer Plessy took a seat in the “Whites Only” car of a train and refused to move. He was arrested, tried, and convicted in the Louisiana district court for breaking segregation law. Plessy appealed by saying that he was denied equal protection under the law (14 th amendment) Plessy appealed by saying that he was denied equal protection under the law (14 th amendment) Court ruled that separate-but-equal facilities did not violate the constitution Court ruled that separate-but-equal facilities did not violate the constitution Of the 11 supreme court judges only one dissented (disagreed). That was Justice John Marshall Harlan. Of the 11 supreme court judges only one dissented (disagreed). That was Justice John Marshall Harlan.

“I am of opinion that the statue… is inconsistent with the personal liberty of citizens, white and black… and hostile to both the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the United States.”

Separate but Equal “Laws permitting, and even requiring, their separation [by race] …do not necessarily imply the inferiority of either race to the other…” --Justice Henry Billings Brown, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Segregation Law These laws perpetuated an unequal and inferior status for African Americans These laws perpetuated an unequal and inferior status for African Americans Southern states aimed to limit Civil Rights Southern states aimed to limit Civil Rights During the 1860’s they were called “Black codes and later they were called “Jim Crow” laws. During the 1860’s they were called “Black codes and later they were called “Jim Crow” laws. Intended to deprive African Americans of their newly won political and social rights won during Reconstruction. Intended to deprive African Americans of their newly won political and social rights won during Reconstruction.

Effect of de jure and de facto segregation Physical space- Laws limited access to most facilities including restaurants, schools, and hospitals. Physical space- Laws limited access to most facilities including restaurants, schools, and hospitals. Physical- Bodily harm Physical- Bodily harm Psychological- Signs reading “Colored Only” and “Whites Only” served as constant reminders that facilities in segregated communities were separate but not equal. Psychological- Signs reading “Colored Only” and “Whites Only” served as constant reminders that facilities in segregated communities were separate but not equal. Economic- debt peon (share cropping) in North could only obtain certain jobs and usually received less pay then white counterparts. Economic- debt peon (share cropping) in North could only obtain certain jobs and usually received less pay then white counterparts.

Segregation in the Southwest Mexican vital to the development of agriculture, railroad and mining in the Southwest Mexican vital to the development of agriculture, railroad and mining in the Southwest Mexicans, African Americans were forced into debt peonage in the Southwest. Mexicans, African Americans were forced into debt peonage in the Southwest. System that bound laborers into slavery in order to work off a debt to an employer. System that bound laborers into slavery in order to work off a debt to an employer. Not until 1911 did the supreme court declare involuntary peonage a violation of the thirteenth amendment Not until 1911 did the supreme court declare involuntary peonage a violation of the thirteenth amendment

Separate But Equal? In Sweatt v. Painter (1950), the Court rejected Texas’s claim that its In Sweatt v. Painter (1950), the Court rejected Texas’s claim that its “law school for Negroes” constituted an equal legal education for its white and black citizens. In Smith v. Allwright (1944), the Court deemed Texas’s use of “white primary” elections unconstitutional. In Smith v. Allwright (1944), the Court deemed Texas’s use of “white primary” elections unconstitutional. In Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), the Court ruled against race-based In Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), the Court ruled against race-based “restrictive covenants” in housing.

What would be several examples of discrimination and segregation in the U.S. during the late 1800’s and into the 1900’s.