Historical Events tagged with "jim crow"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Social Movements & Civil Rights

Interracial Freedom Ride Challenges Jim Crow Laws

April 9th, 1947 77 years ago

Riders embarked on a journey through the upper South to challenge racial segregation in interstate travel, violating Jim Crow laws. They sought to enforce the United States Supreme Court's 1946 Irene Morgan decision, which prohibited such segregation. Activists, both Black and white, united in their commitment to civil rights and equal treatment, planning a series of bus rides to demonstrate their stance against discrimination. This bold act of defiance was rooted in the growing civil rights movement, aiming to draw national attention to ongoing racial injustices and inhumane treatment faced by African Americans.

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Politics & Government

Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 Unfolds

November 10th, 1898 126 years ago

The Wilmington insurrection of 1898 marked a violent overthrow of the elected local government in Wilmington, North Carolina, executed by white supremacists. Following tensions from the racial integration of the city and economic competition, a white mob, armed and intent on reestablishing white dominance, descended upon the city. They attacked the African American community and forcibly expelled many Black leaders from power, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals and the establishment of white supremacy in the region. The insurrection led to a significant shift in local governance and social order.

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Politics & Government

Supreme Court Validates Separate But Equal Doctrine

May 18th, 1896 128 years ago

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, stemming from the case Plessy v. Ferguson. Homer Plessy, a man of mixed race, was arrested for sitting in a 'whites-only' train car in Louisiana, defying segregation laws. The Court ruled that segregation did not violate the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, effectively legitimizing state laws enforcing racial segregation across the nation.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Homer Plessy Defies Segregation Laws

June 7th, 1892 132 years ago

Homer Plessy, a mixed-race individual, was arrested for refusing to leave his seat in a train's 'whites-only' car in Louisiana. The incident, which stemmed from Louisiana's Separate Car Act, was a deliberate act of civil disobedience to challenge racially discriminatory laws. Plessy's arrest led to a significant court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, which ultimately upheld segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

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