Separate but Equal
The passing of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were supposed to help make life more equal for Blacks. However, despite what the Constitution said, many white Americans, particularly those who supported the Confederacy in the southern United States, still thought that Blacks were second-class citizens – all because of the color of their skin. There were even laws written and passed that were designed to limit opportunities for Blacks and to keep them separate from white Americans.
Blacks were forced to ride in separate sections of buses and trains, use different water fountains and restrooms, reside in different neighborhoods, and attend different schools. Public places from pools and libraries, to theaters and restaurants, to hospitals and elderly homes were segregated. Marriage was also segregated as blacks and whites weren’t allowed to marry each other or live together in many states in the south. Signs on walls, windows, and doors read “Whites Only” and “Colored” and constantly reminded people of these inhumane laws.
Blacks in the South faced daily discrimination; life was not easy under the new laws that kept everything separate for Blacks and Whites. Even for Blacks who did not live in the southern states, life still was challenging. Imagine what it would have been like dealing with prejudice from your neighbors and peers, or seeing friends, family, or people like you suffering because of what they look like. You would not even be able to play on the same sports team as someone who had different colored skin than you. However, in the 1940s, one man was given the opportunity to help start integration in baseball.
