Why Jim Crow?
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Although most of us know that Jim Crow is not an actual person, it is imperative that we ask the question "where did jim crow come from?" Jim Crow originated in theatre when a white man by the name of Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice portrayed an exaggerated, streotypical black person. Rice would dress in tattered clothing, have his face colored dark with burnt cork and dance and sing on stage to amuse audiences. His show was a huge success in the late 1820's. By the late 1830's the term "Jim Crow" had become a popular term amongst whites. The term was used as a racial slur. The term later took another form as it was used to describe blacks as lazy, stupid, and less than human. Suprisingly, blacks later replaced the white actors on stage and painted their faces blacks. They too made fun of being black which only made matters worse. Eventually in 1877, Jim Crow became the name of the racial caste system that segregated blacks and whites. The real issue here is that some of these same issues that existed so long ago are still very prevalant. What must we do to make a change?
By: Courtney Mickens