American racial segregation

2013
united kingdom

American racial segregation refers to the systematic separation of people based on their race or ethnicity, particularly between black and white individuals, that was prevalent in the United States from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. Racial segregation was enforced through various legal and social means, perpetuating a system of racial discrimination and inequality.

During the era of Jim Crow laws, which were state and local laws in the southern United States, racial segregation was institutionalized. These laws mandated the segregation of public facilities, such as schools, buses, restaurants, theaters, and restrooms, based on race. Black Americans were subjected to discrimination in many aspects of life, including education, housing, employment, and voting rights.

Segregation was also evident in residential areas, as restrictive covenants and redlining practices prevented black Americans from moving into predominantly white neighborhoods. These practices further perpetuated racial disparities and inequalities.

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s played a significant role in challenging and ultimately dismantling racial segregation in America. Landmark legal cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education (1954), desegregated schools, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibited racial discrimination and ensured equal rights for all Americans.

While racial segregation is no longer legally enforced, its legacy persists in various forms, including ongoing racial disparities in education, housing, employment, and the criminal justice system. Efforts to address and rectify these disparities continue to be important aspects of American society.

Further reading

Salter P.S.; Kelley N.J.; Molina L.E.; Thai L.T. (2017) "Out of sight, out of mind: racial retrieval cues increase the accessibility of social justice concepts", Memory, 25(8), pp. 1139-1147. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2016.1274037

Topping S. (2013) "Laying down the law to the Irish and the coons: Stormont's response to American racial segregation in Northern Ireland during the Second World War", Historical Research, 86(234), pp. 741-759. . DOI: 10.1111/1468-2281.12022

Biss A.A. (2015) "Unexpected frontiers of black internationalism: African Americans in Soviet central Asia, 1930 1976", Central Asian Affairs, 2(2), pp. 189-206. Verlag Ferdinand Schoningh. DOI: 10.1163/22142290-00202004