Imagine you were living in SC during the time of the Jim Crow laws.
For this portfolio, you will complete an activity of your choice from the perspective of a Southerner, a carpetbagger, a former slave, or an African American.
Use the internet to find at least three sources that talk about life as in the South in the 1870s and 1880s.
Write four journal entries.
The journal entry must be from the perspective of someone living in SC in the 1870s and 1880s (a native Southerner, a carpetbagger, a former slave, an African American).
Each journal entry should be at least a page.
Each journal entry should cover a single day.
Include accurate resources.
Journal Entry #1:
Date: May 15, 1875
Today was a day like any other in the South, filled with the oppressive heat and the weight of the Jim Crow laws hanging heavily over our heads. The sense of discrimination and segregation is palpable wherever I go, and it is a constant reminder of the injustices that we face as African Americans. The recent passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 may have promised us equal access to public accommodations, but in reality, we are still treated as second-class citizens. I can only hope for a brighter future, where we can truly be seen as equals in the eyes of the law.
Sources:
1. https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws
2. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilrights/jim-crow-laws.htm
3. https://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/5-decision/jim-crow.html
Journal Entry #2:
Date: September 10, 1878
As a former slave who has experienced the horrors of slavery first-hand, I find it difficult to adjust to life as a free man in the South. While I am grateful for my newfound freedom, the legacy of slavery still haunts me in the form of poverty and discrimination. The Reconstruction efforts have brought about some improvements, such as the establishment of schools for African Americans, but the economic and social disparities between whites and blacks are stark. I can only hope that one day, true equality will be achieved for all.
Sources:
1. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-jim-crow/
2. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery
3. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fugitive-slave-acts
Journal Entry #3:
Date: March 3, 1883
Today, I witnessed the arrival of yet another carpetbagger in our town. These Northerners who come to the South seeking economic opportunities and political power are seen with suspicion by many Southerners, including myself. While some carpetbaggers genuinely want to help rebuild the South after the devastation of the Civil War, others are only interested in lining their own pockets at the expense of the locals. It is a complicated and tense situation, with tensions running high between Northerners and Southerners.
Sources:
1. https://www.nps.gov/articles/carpetbaggers.htm
2. https://www.history.com/news/who-were-the-carpetbaggers
3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/carpetbagger
Journal Entry #4:
Date: November 20, 1888
Today, I attended a gathering of fellow African Americans in our community, where we shared our hopes and dreams for a brighter future. Despite the challenges we face, we draw strength from each other and our shared experiences of resilience and perseverance. The injustices of the Jim Crow laws may weigh heavily on us, but our spirits remain unbroken. We continue to fight for our rights and strive for equality, knowing that our struggle is not in vain. Together, we will overcome all obstacles and build a better tomorrow for ourselves and future generations.
Sources:
1. https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/early-jim-crow-laws-and-voter-suppression/
2. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.pdf?volumnId=188
3. https://www.nps.gov/articles/civil-rights-act.htm