Jim Crow Laws
This is a list of Jim Crow laws in some southern states dominated by segregation at the time of Homer Plessy's life
Arizona
1865: Miscegenation Marriages between whites with "Negroes,
mulattoes, Indians, Mongolians" were declared illegal and void. The word
"Descendants" does not appear in the statute.
1901: Miscegenation Revision of the 1865 statute which added the word "descendants" to the list of
minority groups. The revised statutes also stated that marriages would be valid
if legal where they were contracted, but noted that Arizona residents could not
evade the law by going to another state to perform the ceremony.
1909: Education School district trustees were given the authority to segregate black
students from white children only where there were more than eight Negro pupils
in the school district. I The legislature passed the law over a veto by the
governor.
1911-1962: Segregation, miscegenation, voting Passed six
segregation laws: four against miscegenation and two school segregation
statutes, and a voting rights statute that required electors to pass a literacy
test. The state's miscegenation laws prohibited blacks as well as Indians and
Asians from marrying whites, and were not repealed until 1962.
Georgia
All persons licensed to conduct a restaurant, shall serve either white
people exclusively or colored people exclusively and shall not sell to the two
races within the same room or serve the two races anywhere under the same
license.
It shall be unlawful for any amateur white baseball team to play baseball
on any vacant lot or baseball diamond within two blocks of a playground devoted
to the Negro race, and it shall be unlawful for any amateur colored baseball
team to play baseball in any vacant lot or baseball diamond within two blocks of
any playground devoted to the white race.
Kansas
1905: Education-Schools in Kansas City, Kansas, may organize and
maintain separate schools for education of white and colored children, including
high schools; "but no discrimination on account of color shall be made in high
schools, except as provided herein.
Kentucky
1866: Miscegenation
This law prohibited whites from marrying any
African American who is more than 12% African American (meaning having a blood
relation up to the third generation to an African American). Penalty of not
following this law was a felony that was punishable by imprisonment in the state
penitentiary up to five years.
1866: Education
This gave all school district trustees the right
to create separate schools for African American children.
1873: Education
It was unlawful for a black child to attend a
white school, and vice versa. No separate colored school was allowed to be
located within one mile of a separate white school. This law excluded schools in
cities and towns but did not allow the schools in those areas within six hundred
feet of the other.
1890: Railroads
All railway companies were required to provide
separate but equal accommodations for white and colored passengers. Penalty to
do so resulted in the passengers or conductors receiving a fine of $25 or
imprisonment for 20 days. Any officers and directors of railway companies that
fail to follow this law were found guilty of a misdemeanor and could be fined
between $100 and $500. This law excluded streetcars.
1892: Railroads
Railroads were to provide separate coaches for
white and colored passengers. Signs stating the race for each car must be
posted. Penalty to do so was railway companies that failed could be fined from
between $500 to $1,500. Any conductors who failed to enforce the law were to be
fined from $50 to $100.
1893: Miscegenation
Any marriage between a white person and an
African American or mixed citizen was prohibited.
1894: Railroads
Railroad stations must provide separate but equal
waiting rooms for the white and colored passengers. A sign posting what race was
in what room was to be seeable by everyone. Penalty to do so would end in a fine
$25 or imprisoned up to 30 days. Any agents failing to enforce the law were
found guilty of misdemeanor that was punishable by a fine of $25 to $50.
1894: Miscegenation
Any marriage between a person of color and a
white person was prohibited.
1902: Streetcars
All streetcars must provide separate but equal
accommodations to a passenger of any race. The failure to do so ended with such
penalties as passengers or conductors could receive a fine of $25 or
imprisonment up to 30 days. Any railway company that refused to follow could
receive a fine of $100 or imprisonment between two and six months.
1904: Education
It was unlawful to maintain or operate any
college, school, or institution where persons of the white and African American
races are both allowed to attend. This law did not prohibit private schools or
colleges from maintaining a segregated school in a different location for each
race no less than 25 miles. The penalty for not following this law resulted in
any violators receiving a $1,000 fine.
1908: Public Accommodation
It was unlawful for whites and blacks
to purchase and consume alcohol on the same location. Penalty for this act was a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine from $50 to $500 or an imprisonment in the
parish prison or jail up to two years.
1908: Miscegenation
Cohabitation of a white person and an African
American without legal marriage is a felony. Penalty for committing such an act
resulted in imprisonment from one month to one year, with or without hard
labor.
1909: Health Care
An institution for the education of colored deaf
mutes was to be established. But segregation in this school was to still be
enforced.
1912: Residential
Building permits for building Negro houses in
white communities, or any portion of a community inhabited principally by white
people, and vice versa prohibited. Penalty: violators fined from $50 to $2,000,
"and the municipality shall have the right to cause said building to be removed
and destroyed."
1914: Public Accommodation
All circuses, shows and tent
exhibitions were required to provide two ticket offices with individual ticket
sellers and two entrances to the performance for each race.
1915: Education
No white children were allowed to attend any
graded common school for colored children and vice versa.
1918: Prisons
This law allowed the segregation of races in all
municipal, parish, and state prisons.
1921: Education
This law called for separate public schools for
the education of white and black children between the ages of six and
eighteen.
1921: Housing
This prohibited African American and white families
from living in the same home.
Louisiana
Any person who shall rent any part of any such building to a Negro person
or a Negro family when such building is already in whole or in part in occupancy
by a white person or white family, or vice versa when the building is in
occupancy by a Negro person or Negro family, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
Mississippi
Any person who shall be guilty of printing, publishing or circulating
printed, typewritten or written matter urging or presenting for public
acceptance or general information, arguments or suggestions in favor of social
equality or of intermarriage between whites and Negroes, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to fine not exceeding five thousand (5,000.00) dollars
or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months or both."
Missouri
Separate free schools shall be established for the education of children of
African descent; and it shall be unlawful for any colored child to attend any
white school, or any white child to attend a colored school."
Nebraska
1865: Miscegenation- Declared marriage between whites and a Negro or
mulatto as illegal. Penalty: Misdemeanor, with a fine up to $100, or
imprisonment in the county jail up to six months, or both.
1911: Miscegenation- Marriages between a white and colored person
declared illegal. Also noted that marriages between whites and those persons
with one-quarter or more Negro blood were void.
New Mexico
Separate rooms shall be provided for the teaching of pupils of African
descent, and when said rooms are so provided, such pupils may not be admitted
to the school rooms occupied and used by pupils of Caucasian or other
descent."
Oklahoma
1903: Mining-bath facilities- "The baths and lockers for the Negroes
shall be separate from the white race, but may be in the same building." (Martin
Luther King, Jr. NHS)
1904: Education-Teaching "Any instructor who shall teach in any
school, college or institution where members of the white and colored race are
received and enrolled as pupils for instruction shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less
than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense." (Martin Luther
King, Jr. NHS)
1907: Voting-In 1907, an amendment passed requiring electors
to read and write any section of the state constitution. Exempted were those who
were enfranchised on Jan. 1, 1866, and lineal descendants of such persons.
1907: Funerals- Blacks were not allowed to use the same hearse as
whites.
1908: Voting - In 1907, inmates of institutions were excluded from
voting. "Any person kept in a poorhouse at public expense, except federal,
Confederate, and Spanish-American ex-soldiers or sailors."
South Carolina
No persons, firms, or corporations, who or which furnish meals to
passengers at station restaurants or station eating houses, in times limited by
common carriers of said passengers, shall furnish said meals to white and
colored passengers in the same room, or at the same table, or at the same
counter.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, relative, or other white person in
this State, having the control or custody of any white child, by right of guardianship, natural or acquired, or otherwise,
to dispose of, give or surrender such white child permanently into the custody,
control, maintenance, or support, of a negro."
Texas
Twenty-seven Jim Crow laws were passed in Texas from 1866 to 1958. In
addition to segregation involving blacks, persons of Mexican descent were also
subject to segregation laws. Some examples include:
1950: Separate facilities required for white and black citizens in state
parks
1953: Public carriers to be segregated
1958: No child compelled to attend schools that are racially mixed. No
desegregation unless approved by election. Governor may close schools where
troops used on federal authority.
1865: Miscegenation Marriages between whites with "Negroes,
mulattoes, Indians, Mongolians" were declared illegal and void. The word
"Descendants" does not appear in the statute.
1901: Miscegenation Revision of the 1865 statute which added the word "descendants" to the list of
minority groups. The revised statutes also stated that marriages would be valid
if legal where they were contracted, but noted that Arizona residents could not
evade the law by going to another state to perform the ceremony.
1909: Education School district trustees were given the authority to segregate black
students from white children only where there were more than eight Negro pupils
in the school district. I The legislature passed the law over a veto by the
governor.
1911-1962: Segregation, miscegenation, voting Passed six
segregation laws: four against miscegenation and two school segregation
statutes, and a voting rights statute that required electors to pass a literacy
test. The state's miscegenation laws prohibited blacks as well as Indians and
Asians from marrying whites, and were not repealed until 1962.
Georgia
All persons licensed to conduct a restaurant, shall serve either white
people exclusively or colored people exclusively and shall not sell to the two
races within the same room or serve the two races anywhere under the same
license.
It shall be unlawful for any amateur white baseball team to play baseball
on any vacant lot or baseball diamond within two blocks of a playground devoted
to the Negro race, and it shall be unlawful for any amateur colored baseball
team to play baseball in any vacant lot or baseball diamond within two blocks of
any playground devoted to the white race.
Kansas
1905: Education-Schools in Kansas City, Kansas, may organize and
maintain separate schools for education of white and colored children, including
high schools; "but no discrimination on account of color shall be made in high
schools, except as provided herein.
Kentucky
1866: Miscegenation
This law prohibited whites from marrying any
African American who is more than 12% African American (meaning having a blood
relation up to the third generation to an African American). Penalty of not
following this law was a felony that was punishable by imprisonment in the state
penitentiary up to five years.
1866: Education
This gave all school district trustees the right
to create separate schools for African American children.
1873: Education
It was unlawful for a black child to attend a
white school, and vice versa. No separate colored school was allowed to be
located within one mile of a separate white school. This law excluded schools in
cities and towns but did not allow the schools in those areas within six hundred
feet of the other.
1890: Railroads
All railway companies were required to provide
separate but equal accommodations for white and colored passengers. Penalty to
do so resulted in the passengers or conductors receiving a fine of $25 or
imprisonment for 20 days. Any officers and directors of railway companies that
fail to follow this law were found guilty of a misdemeanor and could be fined
between $100 and $500. This law excluded streetcars.
1892: Railroads
Railroads were to provide separate coaches for
white and colored passengers. Signs stating the race for each car must be
posted. Penalty to do so was railway companies that failed could be fined from
between $500 to $1,500. Any conductors who failed to enforce the law were to be
fined from $50 to $100.
1893: Miscegenation
Any marriage between a white person and an
African American or mixed citizen was prohibited.
1894: Railroads
Railroad stations must provide separate but equal
waiting rooms for the white and colored passengers. A sign posting what race was
in what room was to be seeable by everyone. Penalty to do so would end in a fine
$25 or imprisoned up to 30 days. Any agents failing to enforce the law were
found guilty of misdemeanor that was punishable by a fine of $25 to $50.
1894: Miscegenation
Any marriage between a person of color and a
white person was prohibited.
1902: Streetcars
All streetcars must provide separate but equal
accommodations to a passenger of any race. The failure to do so ended with such
penalties as passengers or conductors could receive a fine of $25 or
imprisonment up to 30 days. Any railway company that refused to follow could
receive a fine of $100 or imprisonment between two and six months.
1904: Education
It was unlawful to maintain or operate any
college, school, or institution where persons of the white and African American
races are both allowed to attend. This law did not prohibit private schools or
colleges from maintaining a segregated school in a different location for each
race no less than 25 miles. The penalty for not following this law resulted in
any violators receiving a $1,000 fine.
1908: Public Accommodation
It was unlawful for whites and blacks
to purchase and consume alcohol on the same location. Penalty for this act was a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine from $50 to $500 or an imprisonment in the
parish prison or jail up to two years.
1908: Miscegenation
Cohabitation of a white person and an African
American without legal marriage is a felony. Penalty for committing such an act
resulted in imprisonment from one month to one year, with or without hard
labor.
1909: Health Care
An institution for the education of colored deaf
mutes was to be established. But segregation in this school was to still be
enforced.
1912: Residential
Building permits for building Negro houses in
white communities, or any portion of a community inhabited principally by white
people, and vice versa prohibited. Penalty: violators fined from $50 to $2,000,
"and the municipality shall have the right to cause said building to be removed
and destroyed."
1914: Public Accommodation
All circuses, shows and tent
exhibitions were required to provide two ticket offices with individual ticket
sellers and two entrances to the performance for each race.
1915: Education
No white children were allowed to attend any
graded common school for colored children and vice versa.
1918: Prisons
This law allowed the segregation of races in all
municipal, parish, and state prisons.
1921: Education
This law called for separate public schools for
the education of white and black children between the ages of six and
eighteen.
1921: Housing
This prohibited African American and white families
from living in the same home.
Louisiana
Any person who shall rent any part of any such building to a Negro person
or a Negro family when such building is already in whole or in part in occupancy
by a white person or white family, or vice versa when the building is in
occupancy by a Negro person or Negro family, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
Mississippi
Any person who shall be guilty of printing, publishing or circulating
printed, typewritten or written matter urging or presenting for public
acceptance or general information, arguments or suggestions in favor of social
equality or of intermarriage between whites and Negroes, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to fine not exceeding five thousand (5,000.00) dollars
or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months or both."
Missouri
Separate free schools shall be established for the education of children of
African descent; and it shall be unlawful for any colored child to attend any
white school, or any white child to attend a colored school."
Nebraska
1865: Miscegenation- Declared marriage between whites and a Negro or
mulatto as illegal. Penalty: Misdemeanor, with a fine up to $100, or
imprisonment in the county jail up to six months, or both.
1911: Miscegenation- Marriages between a white and colored person
declared illegal. Also noted that marriages between whites and those persons
with one-quarter or more Negro blood were void.
New Mexico
Separate rooms shall be provided for the teaching of pupils of African
descent, and when said rooms are so provided, such pupils may not be admitted
to the school rooms occupied and used by pupils of Caucasian or other
descent."
Oklahoma
1903: Mining-bath facilities- "The baths and lockers for the Negroes
shall be separate from the white race, but may be in the same building." (Martin
Luther King, Jr. NHS)
1904: Education-Teaching "Any instructor who shall teach in any
school, college or institution where members of the white and colored race are
received and enrolled as pupils for instruction shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less
than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense." (Martin Luther
King, Jr. NHS)
1907: Voting-In 1907, an amendment passed requiring electors
to read and write any section of the state constitution. Exempted were those who
were enfranchised on Jan. 1, 1866, and lineal descendants of such persons.
1907: Funerals- Blacks were not allowed to use the same hearse as
whites.
1908: Voting - In 1907, inmates of institutions were excluded from
voting. "Any person kept in a poorhouse at public expense, except federal,
Confederate, and Spanish-American ex-soldiers or sailors."
South Carolina
No persons, firms, or corporations, who or which furnish meals to
passengers at station restaurants or station eating houses, in times limited by
common carriers of said passengers, shall furnish said meals to white and
colored passengers in the same room, or at the same table, or at the same
counter.
It shall be unlawful for any parent, relative, or other white person in
this State, having the control or custody of any white child, by right of guardianship, natural or acquired, or otherwise,
to dispose of, give or surrender such white child permanently into the custody,
control, maintenance, or support, of a negro."
Texas
Twenty-seven Jim Crow laws were passed in Texas from 1866 to 1958. In
addition to segregation involving blacks, persons of Mexican descent were also
subject to segregation laws. Some examples include:
1950: Separate facilities required for white and black citizens in state
parks
1953: Public carriers to be segregated
1958: No child compelled to attend schools that are racially mixed. No
desegregation unless approved by election. Governor may close schools where
troops used on federal authority.