De Facto Segregation: Segregation by Practice & Custom
Left: During this time of segregation it was not uncommon to see businesses put up signs saying they will not offer types of services to the colored community. There was no real law stating that blacks were not allowed into the shops. If a colored person went in to the shop, store, or restaurant, they would be rejected of the service they wanted. It was a custom that small businesses would not provide anything to colored people.
Right: During this time, African-Americans were unable to attend places and events that whites went to. There was no law stating that African Americans and Whites could not intermix; it was purely a custom. This custom lead to the creation of the REX Theater. This was a place where African Americans could be themselves and not get judged or harassed based on their skin color.
Left: This was a sign located at a public swimming pool in Selma, Alabama. It is ironic that it is a public pool, but yet colored citizens are not allowed. It was not against the law for colored people to swim in the pools, it was a custom. Some colored people would protest segregation by going to "white only" pools and swimming in them. This really upset the white people; they began to attack and violently hurt the colored people. The police would come and the colored people could possibly get charged with "inciting to riot". Most were found guilty and were fined between five to twenty-five dollars.
De Jure Segregation: Segregation by Law
Left: In this picture notice how the white water fountain is bigger and newer looking, while the water fountain for colored people is small and older. According to the Jim Crow Laws, African Americans and Whites were required to drink from different water fountains. The Jim Crow Laws also required colored people and whites to use separate bathrooms. For disobeying these rules, a person could be put to jail or even hung.
Right: The colored section of the bus was located in the very back of the bus. Colored people were not allowed to enter in the doors at the front of the bus, this was for the white people. Colored citizens had to enter through the back of the bus and sit in there section only. At times these buses became very crowed and the colored section was very small compared to the white part. If a colored person dared to sit in the white section, that person would be brutally punished for their actions.
Left: New Mexico passed a law stating "Separate rooms [shall] be provided for the teaching of pupils of African descent, and [when] said rooms are provided, such pupils may not be admitted to the school rooms occupied and used by pupils of Caucasian or other descent." This meant that it was very unlawful for blacks and whites to attend the same school. It was common that colored children were taught by a colored teacher and white children were taught by white teachers.
White Response:
Right: It was very common for African Americans to protest segregation in ways that were violent and nonviolent. People lined the streets and stood up for what they believed in. At times riots would break out. The fire department and police could not control the people. Firemen would use their fire hose to spray the crows to knock them and force them to leave.
Left: This colored man was protesting on the streets with many other citizens. Police did not like protestors ; they would use police dogs to attack the protestors in hope that they would leave. Many people where killed while protesting and standing up against segregation.
Right: During this time, African Americans and a few Caucasian people would go to a restaurant and seat in the section clearly labeled "White Section". African-Americans wanted to out an end to segregation. This was there nonviolent approach to protesting by using civil disobedience. Once they were sitting they would polity ask to be served. The owners response was to leave or sit in the right section. The colored people would not budge. White people began to throw food and smothering coffee in the face's of the innocent African Americans. Eventually it got worse; white people where physically beating the colored people until they would leave.
Ms. Digmann's class notes
"Examples of Jim Crow Laws." Your Dictionary. N.p., 2015. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
Wiltse, Jeff. One for the White Race and the Other for the Colored Race. Contested Water: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America. North Carolina: U of North Carolina, 2007. 126-27. Print.