Jim Crow Narratives
Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws (Pilgrim, 2012). It was a way of life. Jessie Lee Chassion and Elizabeth Pitts lived during the Jim Crow time and segregation was their way of life. Jessie Lee Chassion and Elizabeth shared a lot in common, but there were minor differences in their experience during this time. Although, these women were raised in two different places, they both attended school and had jobs to help maintain their daily lives (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994).
Jessie Lee Chassion was born in Freetown, a town …show more content…
Everything was labeled either “Whites” or “Blacks”. When they traveled to ride the bus they were not allowed to sit in the front of the bus, but they had to sit in the very back of the bus (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994). They were not allowed to drink from a water faucet as the whites they instead had to drink from a water hose that was connected. When both Elizabeth and Jessie were traveling they were not allowed to use the restroom it was only for whites (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994). When they went out to eat they were not allowed to eat with the whites nor were they allowed to eat in the restaurants. They were served at a window, and that is where their food was brought to them by blacks who worked in the kitchen. Though, they could not eat with the whites they could shop with them. Elizabeth stated, “You could always go in a store and shop because they always wanted your money.” Life was still very hard for these women during the Jim Crow Era. They had to refer to whites and their kids as Mr. Mrs. or Ms., and give them the proper greeting, but the same did not go for them, it was made clear that they were less important. Voting during this time was frowned upon. According to Elizabeth people on her plantation were scared to vote because either you came up missing or something bad happened to you. Jessie’s experience with voting was slightly different than Elizabeth. Blacks during her time did not start to vote until about 1966 when Abraham Roy, the first black man to register to vote, decided to vote. During the time of the Jim Crow laws blacks were still afraid of the whites and what might happen to them if they decided to against the whites (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies,
Jim Crow was the name of the racial caste system which operated primarily, but not exclusively in southern and border states, between 1877 and the mid-1960s. Jim Crow was more than a series of rigid anti-black laws (Pilgrim, 2012). It was a way of life. Jessie Lee Chassion and Elizabeth Pitts lived during the Jim Crow time and segregation was their way of life. Jessie Lee Chassion and Elizabeth shared a lot in common, but there were minor differences in their experience during this time. Although, these women were raised in two different places, they both attended school and had jobs to help maintain their daily lives (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994).
Jessie Lee Chassion was born in Freetown, a town …show more content…
Everything was labeled either “Whites” or “Blacks”. When they traveled to ride the bus they were not allowed to sit in the front of the bus, but they had to sit in the very back of the bus (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994). They were not allowed to drink from a water faucet as the whites they instead had to drink from a water hose that was connected. When both Elizabeth and Jessie were traveling they were not allowed to use the restroom it was only for whites (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies, 1994). When they went out to eat they were not allowed to eat with the whites nor were they allowed to eat in the restaurants. They were served at a window, and that is where their food was brought to them by blacks who worked in the kitchen. Though, they could not eat with the whites they could shop with them. Elizabeth stated, “You could always go in a store and shop because they always wanted your money.” Life was still very hard for these women during the Jim Crow Era. They had to refer to whites and their kids as Mr. Mrs. or Ms., and give them the proper greeting, but the same did not go for them, it was made clear that they were less important. Voting during this time was frowned upon. According to Elizabeth people on her plantation were scared to vote because either you came up missing or something bad happened to you. Jessie’s experience with voting was slightly different than Elizabeth. Blacks during her time did not start to vote until about 1966 when Abraham Roy, the first black man to register to vote, decided to vote. During the time of the Jim Crow laws blacks were still afraid of the whites and what might happen to them if they decided to against the whites (Duke University. Center for Documentary Studies,