State enforced segregation

Date and country of first publication

2010
United States

Definition

State-enforced segregation refers to the legal system and policies put in place by a government to separate different racial or ethnic groups into distinct residential, social, and institutional spaces. This system of segregation was most prevalent in the United States, particularly in the southern states, from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.

State-enforced segregation was known as "Jim Crow laws" in the US, named after a blackface character from minstrel shows, and aimed to enforce racial hierarchy and maintain white supremacy. These laws mandated racial segregation in public facilities, such as schools, transportation, parks, restaurants, and restrooms. They also restricted interracial marriage and limited voting rights for African Americans through methods such as poll taxes and literacy tests.

The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, but it took several years for the civil rights movement and public pressure to dismantle the broader system of state-enforced segregation.

While state-enforced segregation was most prominent in the US, there have been instances of similar policies in other countries. South Africa, for example, enforced a system of racial segregation known as apartheid until the early 1990s. This system was even more extreme and oppressive than the segregation in the US, with strict laws governing every aspect of life, including where people could live, work, and socialize based on their race.

Overall, state-enforced segregation represents a dark chapter in history, characterized by systemic discrimination and the denial of basic rights and opportunities to minority groups.

Notes

At its current state, this definition has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM) so far without review by an independent researcher or a member of the curating team of segregation experts that keep the Segregation Wiki online. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its reliability, completeness and timeliness. Please use this content with caution and verify information as needed. Also, feel free to improve on the definition as you see fit, including the use of references and other informational resources. We value your input in enhancing the quality and accuracy of the definitions of segregation forms collectively offered in the Segregation Wiki ©.

Further reading

Ibrahim I. (2010) Emigration patterns among palestinian women in Israel. Displaced at Home: Ethnicity and Gender among Palestinians in Israel, 207-222. State University of New York Press.[1]

Feder J. (2012) Affirmative action in employment: A legal overview*. Affirmative Action and Preferential Treatment: Laws and Developments, 57-79. Nova Science Publishers, Inc..[2]

Williams J.R. (2020) A working woman’s eye: Anne Fischer and the South African photography of Weimar women in exile. Women and Photography in Africa: Creative Practices and Feminist Challenges, 23-44. Taylor and Francis.[3]