Final answer:
Section 243 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, which is represented by Option B, was a tool for institutionalized racism by imposing literacy tests and poll taxes to disenfranchise African Americans, undermining their political and social agency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Section 243 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 contributed to institutionalized racism in the post-Reconstruction South by disenfranchising African Americans through various discriminatory practices. This is represented by Option B, which correctly identifies that the section imposed literacy tests and poll taxes, creating substantial obstacles for African American voters and solidifying the foundation of institutionalized racism within the state. These measures, along with understanding clauses, aimed to systematically reduce the political power and societal participation of African Americans, contributing to a racially segregated society.
The Mississippi Plan was a strategy that included poll taxes, literacy tests, and other methods to suppress African-American suffrage, effectively reducing registered black voters from tens of thousands to a mere fraction. These disenfranchising measures, like poll taxes and literacy tests, weren't only about voter eligibility but were a means to maintain white supremacy and control the political landscape in Mississippi and other Southern states. Southern states, after reclaiming control of state legislatures, codified these discriminatory measures to ensure the perpetuation of white-dominated governance.