Face of Freedom

Even though African-Americans had been freed as slaves and given rights, they were still discriminated against. Social limitations came to popularity as whites enraged about the fact that African-Americans were to be seen as equals. Many whites looked down upon African- Americans, but there was one major group that exercised a practice called lynching. The process of lynching was in retaliation of the hatred towards blacks and whites that were sympathetic to blacks. The act of lynching continued up until the late 1870’s. The Jim Crow laws also came about creating a “separate but equal” tone to society.
Political limitations were a big thing in the South. The literacy test and poll taxes were created to keep blacks from coming to poll boxes. Literacy tests were used to see if an individual could read and write and understand a concept. But the tests weren’t fair due to them being watched the entire time or the false judgment on the passing of the test. Poll taxes were created for those blacks who couldn’t afford to vote. This yearly tax was required to be paid before a vote could be cast. Sharecroppers didn’t always have enough money to pay the tax.
Many African-Americans migrated to Northern states for better conditions of living. But they weren’t economically accepted. In fear of blacks taking jobs, labor unions discriminated against blacks. Businesses only allowed African-Americans to work in their factories if no other source of work was available, but if there was a shortage they were the first to be fired. Even in them buying land there were limitations, they couldn’t buy homes in certain communities. The way that blacks were discriminated against went against most of the laws passed to “protect” their