State supported segregation

2017
ireland

State-supported segregation refers to the practice of enforcing racial segregation through laws and policies enacted by state governments. This was a prominent feature of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was characterized by the systematic separation of racial groups in various aspects of life, including education, housing, public facilities, transportation, and employment.

This form of segregation was primarily aimed at African Americans, who were subjected to discriminatory laws known as Jim Crow laws. These laws mandated separate facilities for different races, with the intention of keeping African Americans in an inferior and subordinate position to white Americans. Some examples of state-supported segregation laws included separate schooling for white and black students, separate seating in public spaces, and the outlawing of interracial marriage.

State-supported segregation was not limited to the southern states, although the South implemented it more rigorously and explicitly. Northern and western states also had various forms of segregation, although they were often more subtle and informal. These measures were eventually deemed unconstitutional through a series of landmark Supreme Court cases and were officially abolished with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The legacy of state-supported segregation continues to affect American society today, as it led to socioeconomic disparities between racial groups and produced a lasting racial divide. Efforts continue to be made to address these disparities through affirmative action policies and other initiatives aimed at promoting equal opportunities for all races and ethnicities.

Further reading

Ledwith V. (2017) "State supported segregation? Examining migrant clustering in schools in Ireland", Space and Polity, 21(3), pp. 335-354. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/13562576.2017.1387222