Question.3695 - Discussion Board 2 As we read in the last two chapters, 1875-1900 was a big political era as it set the tone for systematic racism. Jim Crow was introduced, and it established a system that was in place for nearly a century. It created numerous road blocks for many, as it continued to turn the law against African Americans. In light of chapters 13 & 14 readings, please consider and answer the following questions: 1. What were the political roles held by African Americans during this time period? Do you think they tried to insert themselves into the political infrastructure too soon? Why or Why not? 2. How did white Americans justify segregation? 3. Why did the South experience an epidemic of violence and lynching in the late nineteenth century? Briefly analyze the effects this experience had on the African American community, compared to brutality of slavery and seasoning.
Answer Below:
During the period from 1875 to 1900, African Americans held various political roles, albeit limited and often precarious. Initially, they participated in local and state politics, with some achieving positions such as legislators and mayors. However, the introduction of Jim Crow laws and systemic racism severely restricted their political influence. Many argue that African Americans attempted to insert themselves into the political infrastructure too soon. A brief period of political engagement had been fostered by The Reconstruction era but the backlash from white supremacists and the eventual disenfranchisement through legal means created insurmountable obstacles for Black political participation. Segregation was justified by White Americans through a combination of pseudoscientific racism and economic self-interest. White Americans propagated the belief that African Americans were inherently inferior. Therefore, they need to be separated from white society for both their own good and that of society at large. This justification was codified in laws like those stemming from the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. It established the "separate but equal" doctrine. Due to a mix of economic competition, racial tensions, and social control mechanisms The South experienced an epidemic of violence and lynching in the late nineteenth century which were aimed at maintaining white supremacy. This violence was often justified as a means to uphold social order. While it had devastating effects on the African American community. The trauma from lynching and systemic violence was a stark reminder of slavery's brutality, creating a pervasive atmosphere of fear that stifled any aspirations for civil rights or social mobility.More Articles From Others
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