HSY2601
Assignment 4
Semester 2
DUE 30 September 2024
, Topic 1: Unequal Relations Between Black and White People in 19th-Century
America
After the abolition of slavery in the United States through the 13th Amendment in 1865,
the anticipated equality and integration of Black Americans into society did not
materialize. Several reasons contributed to the persistence of unequal relations between
Black and white people during the 19th century:
1. Jim Crow Laws and Racial Segregation: The post-Reconstruction era saw the
implementation of Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation in the South.
These laws codified racial discrimination in all aspects of public life, including
education, transportation, and public facilities. The Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme
Court case in 1896 further entrenched the doctrine of "separate but equal,"
legitimizing systemic racism (Bayly, 2004).
2. Economic Disparities: Many freed Black people remained in a cycle of poverty due
to limited access to education, jobs, and financial resources. Sharecropping became
a common economic arrangement, trapping Black farmers in a system of debt and
dependency that perpetuated inequality (Bessel et al., 2010).
3. Political Disenfranchisement: Various tactics were employed to disenfranchise
Black voters, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and outright intimidation. Although
the 15th Amendment ostensibly granted Black men the right to vote, these barriers
effectively marginalized their political power and representation (Bayly, 2004).
4. Cultural Racism and Stereotyping: Deep-seated cultural beliefs about racial
superiority contributed to the marginalization of Black Americans. Media and popular
narratives portrayed Black individuals in a negative light, reinforcing stereotypes that
justified discriminatory practices (Bessel et al., 2010). These cultural attitudes were
perpetuated through literature, art, and the educational system, further entrenching
social hierarchies.
5. Violence and Terror: Racial violence, particularly from groups like the Ku Klux Klan,
was both a tool and a tactic to maintain white supremacy. Lynching and other acts of
racial terror were prevalent, demonstrating the lengths to which white supremacy
would go to enforce social order and instill fear in Black communities (Bayly, 2004).
The culmination of systemic racism, economic inequalities, political disenfranchisement,
cultural stereotypes, and pervasive violence created a society where Black and white
Americans lived in starkly unequal conditions, reflecting deep-rooted issues that
persisted long past the abolition of slavery.
