DigitalNC: North Carolina's Digital Heritage

Background

The Advent of Slavery in the United States

Slavery had become a global institution with the rise of colonialism and the ideology of distinct races; a chosen hierarchy accompanied this construct, now known as white supremacy, and was used to justify the violence enacted through colonization. As the now named Americas were colonized, enslaved people from Africa began to be brought to the colonies during the early 1600’s, and the practice of slavery grew exponentially from this point.

Slavery was a strongly held American institution until the idea of abolition began to gain more widespread support in the early and mid-1800’s. Many people had been strongly advocating against the violent practice of slavery and undermining its power over enslaved people since its inception, and the 1800’s saw a culmination of these efforts. Regardless of the motivations, whether moral or economic, the reality of abolition became clear and a Civil War (1861-1865) resulted between the industrial Northern states within the Union and the Southern states, which held most of the enslaved population and, consequently, those that most directly profited from the continued practice of slavery.

Post-Civil War Reconstruction

After the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) issued by president Lincoln declaring the end of slavery and then the Union’s victory in the Civil War (1865), the Reconstruction period began in the South to rebuild and restructure the post-war region, circa 1865-1877. The 13th amendment was ratified into the Constitution and officially prohibited the practice of slavery within the United States. However, the legacy of slavery and racism persisted; its influence could be found in the language of the 13th amendment that abolished slavery (except for slavery in the form of being incarcerated), in the newly created laws that continued white supremacist ideology, and in the everyday actions and anti-Black beliefs held by individuals throughout the country.

“Jim Crow”

The term ‘Jim Crow’ came from the phrase coined by a popular song used in minstrel shows, which were performances centered on mocking African Americans. This is also where the act of Black-face gained popularity. The racist phrase ‘Jim Crow’ became the name given to the era of repression and segregation in the United States marked by racist and segregationist laws. It prohibited non-white people from certain areas or from engaging in certain activities (e.g. drinking from separate water fountains or only being allowed to sit in designated sections of public venues). More discreet laws were implemented discriminatorily, like requiring a poll tax or written test in order to vote. This began primarily after the Reconstruction period in response to the increased participation of Black people in the community and politics, especially with the success of Black politicians in being elected in Southern states.

These laws were in place throughout the country, not only the South, although the South’s history with slavery and resentment from its abolition among politicians and former slaveholders created a hostile environment in the region. Many people began to identify certain areas as “Sundown Towns” because they knew them to be unsafe for any Black person to visit after dark. Some towns even had signs that proclaimed the entire area “for whites only,” much like those posted by businesses or on public restrooms throughout the country.

People experienced oppression both structurally through these racist laws and personally from individual people. Strongly held racist ideologies gave rise to white supremacist organizations, like the Klu Klux Klan, and spontaneous mobs that resulted in terrorizing Black people and the practice of lynchings. The reality of life throughout the South was marred by violence and oppression, and these occurrences became mostly Southern violence.

Resistance to Oppression

In response, communities began to organize and resist structural and communal oppression. Many Black communities were founded during this time due to segregation, and their exclusion from public life saw the creation of many Black-owned businesses. In North Carolina, there were multiple Black-run newspapers that reported both on the issues their community was facing and that celebrated their joys and accomplishments. For example, you could find on a front page both an update on possible desegregation of interstate transportation, as well as congratulations for the recently graduated local high school students.

While the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 saw the legal end of explicit Jim Crow laws, some would argue that Jim Crow persists not in law, but in the racist policies and practices still ingrained in many institutions, like under-funding historically Black communities. By exploring the documented history and the lived experiences of people during this time in North Carolina, we can understand its impacts and lasting effects on people and our communities.