The History of The Black Codes of 1865
Jim Crow Laws Kept African American New-Found Freedoms Out of Reach
Dec 10, 2008
The Black Codes (sometimes called Jim Crow Laws) of 1865 were enacted to help control and define what the world would be like for African Americans after slavery ended. Jim Crow was the name of one of the characters on a minstrel show. Minstrel shows had white actors who wore black make up on their face and made fun of African Americans. Black Codes were part of the way southern states regulated African Americans.
The Mississippi Code had 29 sections. The sections discussed what African American legal rights would be in the state, apprenticeship guidelines, Employer's rights and vagrancy. Southern States used the laws to achieve the objective of regaining power over African Americans after slavery.
Code Specifics
Black Codes left African Americans with little to no freedom at all. They were unable to even choose the type of work they wanted to do. This gave Southerners a way to continue to get laborers on their land since it was one of the approved occupations they could have. The State of South Carolina required a special license and certificate from a judge to pursue any other work other than that of domestic or agriculture work. Black Codes prohibited African Americans from raising their own crops. They were also unable to rent or lease land outside of town without permission.
African Americans were forbidden from carrying firearms and unable to testify in court unless the matter pertained to other African Americans. Marriage was approved between other African Americans but interracial marriages were not allowed.
Vagrancy
Southern States charged African Americans with vagrancy if they entered the town without permission. The State of Louisiana required a note from the employer. The note would have to describe why they were visiting and the amount of time they would be there. Any African American who did not have a note and were in town after 10pm would be arrested and taken to jail. The Mississippi Code vagrancy section says "All rogues and vagabonds, idle and dissipated persons, beggars, jugglers, or persons practicing unlawful games or plays, runaways, common drunkards, common night-walkers, pilferers, lewd, wanton or lascivious persons, in speech or behavior, common railers and brawlers, persons who neglect their calling or employment, misspend what they earn, or do not provide for the support of themselves or their families, or dependents, and all other idle and disorderly persons, including all who neglect all lawful business, habitually misspend their time by frequenting houses of ill-fame, gaming-houses, or tippling shops, shall be deemed and considered vagrants. A person whom the law considers a vagrant and is subject to arrest and a fine. Anyone who isn't able to pay the fine will be hired out to anyone who is willing to pay the fine for him/her and will be required to work for that person until the fine is paid off."
The fines were about $50 which was more than any newly-freed African American could pay. The laws enabled Whites to pay fees to have African Americans work for them until the fine was paid in full.
Reaction
Northern States reacted to the Black Codes with disgust and riots. Black Codes did not entirely go away until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; a little over 100 years later.
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