Jim Crow Laws, Racial Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement

Towards the end of reconstruction, Jim Crow laws were introduced to enforce racial segregation in the American south and as well as other areas. However, these laws continued up until and throughout the beginning of the civil rights movement that occurred in the 1950’s. In addition, these laws were also used throughout the summer of 1964, which caused fear throughout the color community. This was because these laws limited the opportunities of colored people such as voting and other society relation. This so-called summer of 1964 turned out to be a violent time in American history that also served to be an important aspect of the civil rights movement; this time also served as an attention grabber to the government.

This summer of 1964 was seen in Mississippi, which turned out to be violent, yet revolutionary, at the same time. In the article, “The Summer of our Discontent,” Bruce Watson states that “Mississippi was synonymous with brutal racial dominance” (Watson 1). This means that Mississippi had a similar connotation as racial dominance, which in this case was dominance of the white over the colored. During this time, Mississippi was known for its brutal violence and racial segregation. This caused fear in other societies such as the black community and cause them fear to not enter Mississippi.

However, there were a few that entered, yet they were unaware of the violence that awaited them. Watson also states that “Years of peaceful protest had been met with bombings, beatings, and simple murder” (Watson 1). This statement shows us that the violence in Mississippi was severe and unlawful to the colored people. Notice how Watson states that peaceful protests were met “with bombing, beatings…” , this statement shows us how severe it was in Mississippi; just imagine how violent protests were to be taken care of. Watson also states, “Mississippi remained a neglected outpost of civil rights, too removed, too rural, too simmering with hatred to offer the slightest hope” (Watson 1).

This statement shows readers that most of the country did not care about Mississippi’s racial violence and that others such as Martin Luther King Jr. were too busy focused on the Southern cities instead of doing something that would cause change in Mississippi. In addition, Watson refers to Mississippi as not having a slight bit of hope because the region has a political climate that does not welcome the colored race. Another statement that supports the unjust violence in Mississippi is that “Everybody knew Mississippi was just too dangerous to mess with” (Watson 1). This statement serves as evidence as to how Mississippi’s political climate is deemed dangerous and too violent. At this point, Mississippi’s political climate was too dangerous due to its racial violence and yet no one seemed to bring their attention to this violence that was occurring at this time. In conclusion, this summer of 1964 proved to be dangerous yet revolutionary during the Civil Rights Movement.

 

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