Introduction
Exploring the Jim Crow Laws
In order to fully grasp the attitudes and outlooks for African Americans in the early 1900's through the 1960's, one must first possess an understanding of Jim Crow Laws and the culture it created.
Task
This web quest will take you through a series of activities that will allow you to further investigate the Jim Crow laws and the people who were affected by them. In your first activity you will be asked to research the history and examine the actual Jim Crow Laws, while making personal connections; second you will read personal narratives of African-Americans who were personally affected by the restrictions imposed on them by these laws and complete an informational sheet about your narrator; for your final task you will be asked to listen to a personal narrative and create a one page personal response allowing you to make an emotional connection to the lives of the African American who survived this time. Your goal is to uncover what it was really like to be African American during a time of extreme racism and segregation. Without this understanding, any reference to this era will be much harder to comprehend.
Please press start to begin your web quest!
Process
Activity 1
The Jim Crow Law era was a particularly difficult and heinous time for those restricted by these laws. Please visit the Jim Crow Museum to find out more about the history and facts about this time in American history.
Activity Steps:
1. Visit The Jim Crow Museum.
2. After reading through all of the laws, pick four (4) Jim Crow laws that you find interesting or especially mean or ridiculous.
3. Using these four laws, you will answer three questions to help you complete the attached chart.
4. Please print and complete the chart to receive full credit on your assignment.
Activity 2
Find out what it was really like to live during the Jim Crow era by reading some of these first hand personal narratives from the survivors of this segregated era.
Activity Steps:
1. Visit Jim Crow Narratives.
This site has 15 people telling their own stories of living under Jim Crow.
2.You will read one of the following narratives (please click on ONE of the names below):
1. T.R. Davidson
2. R.C. Hickman
3. Joseph Holloway
4. Nobuo Honda
4. After you have finished reading your chosen personal narrative complete the Personal Narratives worksheet.
5. Click the button below to access your worksheet. Please print and complete this chart to receive full credit on your assignment.
Activity 3
Now that you have researched the Jim Crow era and read about what it was like, the only way to truly understand this period in American History is to HEAR first hand what it was like.
Activity Steps:
1. Visit Jim Crow Narratives. This site has 15 people telling their own stories of living under Jim Crow.
2. Choose one of the 11 personal narratives to listen to.
3. You will now listen to a recording of one of these interviews.
4. After you have listened to the interview, you should take a minute or two to record your personal responses to the interview in your own notes.
5. In a typed, one page personal response answer the following questions:
A. How did you feel while listening to this person’s story?
B. What effect did hearing the person’s voice have on you?
C. Which did you find to have the most impact on you,reading or listening to the personal narrative? Why?
D. Do you think that if you lived under these rigid and unjust laws it would affect how you perceive yourself and the world around you? Would it affect how you deal with conflict? Explain.
Your Response Must be:
Typed
Spell Checked
12 Point Font
Times New Roman
Double Spaced
Evaluation
Activity #1:
Must have review laws and choose 4 and answer the 3 questions for each law.
Activity #2:
Must answer the personal narrative questions.
Activity #3:
Must listen to personal accounts and prepare 1 page response.
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have completed your investigation of the Jim Crow Laws.