“Separate but equal, like the fingers of a hand.” -Booker T. Washington

 The name of the racial caste (class) system based on the idea that Blacks and Whites could and should exist “Separate but equal”  Operated primarily, but not exclusively, in southern states between 1877 and the 1960’s (until the Civil Rights Mvt)

 "Come listen all you galls and boys, I'm going to sing a little song, My name is Jim Crow. Weel about and turn about and do jis so, Eb'ry time I weel about I jump Jim Crow.“  Not an actual person, but from a song

 Although “Separate but equal” was the idea, many African Americans were not at all treated equal. Any public forum-- bathrooms, waiting rooms, theaters, grocery stores, drinking fountains—were separated by “Whites” and “Colored”. Many of the “Colored” facilities were of a lower grade and physical condition than that of “Whites”. African Americans were treated as second class citizens.

 A Black male could not offer his hand (to shake hands) with a White male because it implied being socially equal.  Blacks and Whites were not supposed to eat together. If they did eat together, Whites were to be served first.  Under no circumstances was a Black male to look at, or offer a hand (to shake hands) to a White woman because risked being accused of rape.  Blacks were not allowed to show public affection toward one another.  Jim Crow etiquette prescribed that Blacks were introduced to Whites, never Whites to Blacks. For example: “Mr. Peters (White person), this is Charlie (the Black person), that I spoke to you about.  Whites did not use courtesy titles of respect when referring to Blacks (Mr., Mrs., Miss., Sir, or Ma’am.) Instead, Blacks were called by their first names. Blacks, however, had to use courtesy titles when referring to Whites.  If a Black person rode in a car driven by a White person, the Black person sat in the back seat.  White motorists had the right-of-way at all intersections.

STETSON KENNEDY, THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK JIM CROW GUIDE, OFFERED THESE RULES THAT BLACKS WERE SUPPOSED TO OBSERVE WHEN CONVERSING WITH WHITES:  “Never imply that a White person is lying  Never suggest that a White person is from an inferior class  Never demonstrate superior knowledge or intelligence.  Never comment upon the appearance of a White female.”

 Book written in 1960’s but takes place in rural Macomb, Alabama the 1930’s  Jim Crow laws were alive and well  Written by Harper Lee, who grew up in Monroeville, Alabama during the 1930’s  Watch for connections between the Jim Crow laws and the attitudes and actions of characters we will meet in the novel. “It's a sin to kill a mocking bird" (To Kill A Mockingbird, 98).

 For the third time a jury—now with one black member—returned a third guilty verdict. Charges were finally dropped for four of the nine defendants. Sentences for the rest ranged from 75 years to death. All but two served prison sentences. One was shot in prison by a guard. Two escaped, were charged with crimes, and were sent back to prison. Clarence Norris, the oldest defendant and the only one sentenced to death, escaped parole and went into hiding in He was pardoned by George Wallace in 1976 after he was found, and wrote a book about his experiences. The last surviving defendant died in 1989George Wallace