Hughes Poetry as an Apt Expression of the African American Pride - Research Paper Example

The primary objective of the Jim Crow laws during the times of segregation was to oppress the African Americans. What is known as Jim Crow was the name attributed to a racist caste system that was rampant in the Southern and Border States during the period 1877-1960 (Jim Crow)? Jim Crow primarily comprised of rigid anti-black laws that were intended to be followed as a normal and regular way of life in these states (Jim Crow). As was the nature of these laws, they relegated African Americans to a secondary status in a social and legal context (Jim Crow).

It goes without saying that the essential objective of Jim Crow was to douse the anti-Black racism with an aura of legitimization (Jim Crow). As per the Jim Crow laws, the Blacks were merely worthy of serving as servants and in other menial jobs, and this dehumanization of the Black people was deemed to be right in the eyes of God and justice (Jim Crow). Not to mention that the contemporary naturalists, anthropologists, and such other experts left no stone unturned in bolstering the belief that the blacks were inferior to the whites when it came to culture and intellect (Jim Crow).

Pro-segregation politicians of an on harangued about a possible marginalization of the white race unless protected by a meticulous system of racial segregation (Jim Crow). The general policy pursued by the newspapers and magazines and the like print media and forms of expression was to reinforce racial stereotyping by using derogatory terms like niggers and darkies while addressing the blacks.