Step-by-step explanation:
"Jim Crow laws" were a set of racially discriminatory laws and practices that were enforced in the United States from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. These laws were primarily implemented in the Southern states and were aimed at enforcing racial segregation and promoting white supremacy.
The term "Jim Crow" originated from a minstrel character of the same name, which was a stereotypical portrayal of African Americans performed by white actors in blackface. The character was used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and reinforce white dominance over black people.
Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in various public spaces, including schools, transportation, restaurants, restrooms, parks, and theaters. They mandated separate facilities for African Americans and whites, with the facilities for black people being consistently inferior in quality and resources.
Under these laws, African Americans were subjected to systemic discrimination and denied basic civil rights enjoyed by white citizens, such as voting rights, access to education, and equal treatment under the law. The laws also restricted interracial marriage and social interaction between races.
The Jim Crow era began to decline in the mid-20th century with the rise of the Civil Rights Movement. Significant legal challenges, such as the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, struck down racial segregation in public schools. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 further dismantled Jim Crow laws and prohibited racial discrimination in various areas of public life.
Langston Hughes, an influential African American poet and writer, often addressed themes of racial inequality and social injustice in his work. In his poem "One-Way Ticket," Hughes alludes to Jim Crow laws as a symbol of the racial oppression and discrimination experienced by African Americans in the United States.