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Difficulty: EasyJim Crow, Disenfranchisement, and Legal Segregation

Read the excerpt below from a 1915 Alabama state statute:

'It shall be unlawful for a white person and a negro to play together or in company with each other at any game of pool or billiards.'

Which of the following terms best describes the system of racial separation enforced by this type of statute?

  1. A
    De facto segregation
  2. De jure segregationAnswer
  3. C
    De facto disenfranchisement
  4. D
    Debt peonage

Answer

De jure segregation
The correct answer is de jure segregation. The excerpt describes a state law ('unlawful... to play together') that legally mandates the separation of Black and white individuals. In American history, legal segregation established by state and local laws during the Jim Crow era is known as de jure segregation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical source.
The source is an official state statute from Alabama that legally prohibits white and Black individuals from playing pool or billiards together.
Understanding whether the source represents a legal mandate or a customary practice is key to identifying the correct sociological and historical term.
2
Differentiate between de jure and de facto segregation.
Since the separation is explicitly written into law ('It shall be unlawful...'), it represents de jure segregation (segregation by law) rather than de facto segregation (segregation by custom or practice).
This step distinguishes legally enforced segregation from customary segregation.

Key Concept

The difference between de jure segregation (enforced by law) and de facto segregation (enforced by custom or practice) during the Jim Crow era.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Jim Crow, Disenfranchisement, and Legal Segregation

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