Answer each question in 4 or 5 sentences.
SET 1
Answer two of the following questions about Chapter 3: Race.1) Explain how concepts of European superiority came about?
2) Explain why concepts of White Supremacy in the South developed?
3) Explain how Biblical and other related principles of Christianity were (ab)used to justify slavery?
4) In your own words, explain why or why not Race can be used to effectively and accurately identify groups of people?
SET 2
Answer two of the following questions about “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow,”
1) Why does Wright call this essay “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow”? What are the ethical dilemmas he faces because of Jim Crow? (If you’re not sure what “ethics” means, look it up before answering this question.)
2) Why don’t Pease and Morrie want Richard to learn anything from them? How and why are their attitude toward Richard different from their employer’s attitude?
3) How did living Jim Crow affect Wright’s ability to feel like a man and take on a man’s role in society, especially in regard to black women?
4) Discuss the Jim Crow attitudes about sex between blacks and whites and how they were enforced.
Resources
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project (Opens in same window)
This online collection of the Library of Congress, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936-1938, has an extensive collection of interviews with former slaves and provides good insights into slavery from the slaves’ point of view. Some of the better interviews are with the following: Hal Hutson, Sam Mitchell, Frank Gill, and Mary Frances Webb.
Slave Biographies & Autobiographies, including Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass (Opens in same window)
This site includes biographies and autobiographies of slaves, including Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of a Slave. They’re organized by state; look in the index under Slaves–biography.
Ethics of Jim Crow:
See attached pdf containing multiple story excerpts relating to the Jim Crow laws/Segregation.
The Hemings-Jefferson Controversy (Opens in same window)
The Monticello Web site explores many aspects of Thomas Jefferson’s life, including the relationship between Jefferson and a slave woman, Sally Hemings, and the 200-year-old speculation that he fathered one or more of her children. Now, thanks to DNA testing, the relationship has been established as a strong possibility. Check this site out for details.
Sociology for the South and Cannibals All! The Doctrine of White Supremacy (Opens in same window)
Look for George Fitzhugh’s name on this site, and click to find his most important works (Sociology for the South and Cannibals All!), published before the Civil War, that promote his views on white supremacy.
Ben Tillman’s Speech in History Matters (Opens in same window)
Ben Tillman was a leading white supremacist during the late 1800s and early 1900s and one of the creators of Jim Crow segregation. He gave this speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate justifying white supremacy, segregation, and lynching.
The Civil War (Opens in same window)
This PBS Web site explores the cause and effects of the Civil War, as well as historical details about battles, attitudes, and how the war was won.
Reconstruction (Opens in same window)
Even when the official Civil War ended in 1865, violence continued during the Reconstruction era and even as late as the 1890s. The issue after the wasr was what “place” African Americans would occupy in the South. The introduction of Jim Crow segregation in the 1890s would settle this question. This site explores the drama of Reconstruction and its eventual resolution.
Without Sanctuary (Opens in same window)
Warning: This is a graphic and disturbing site. It presents a slide show of picture postcards (real ones) depicting real lynchings.
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