Jim Crow Laws Effect on Interracial Marriage Today

Although the term “Jim Crow” came from an upbeat show tune (“Jump Jim Crow”), there was nothing upbeat about the laws. Jim Crow laws deprived African Americans of privileges enjoyed by Caucasians. The laws varied from where African Americans could sit on a bus and to what drinking fountains they could use. These Jim Crow laws also controlled who African Americans could or could not marry. Interracial marriage was prohibited during the Jim Crow era (in the mid 1800s). As of today, some people are still prejudice to different races marrying each other, but the percentage of Americans approving of interracial marriage has increased since the Jim Crow era. Jim Crow laws on interracial marriage are no longer legal today, but there are people who still do not accept intermarriage.

All states had different Jim Crow intermarriage laws. In the late 1800’s, Georgia had this law: “It shall be unlawful for a white person to marry anyone except a white person. Any marriage in violation of this section shall be void.” (Race, Racism, and the Law). The goal of this law was to keep the races separate. African American males were not allowed to look at Caucasian females and they were often falsely accused of rape. Whites felt as if they were protecting women by forbidding interracial marriage.

Most states prohibited interracial marriage. However, some states permitted white people and black people to marry. In 1865, Missouri had this law: “All marriages between...white persons and negroes or white persons and Mongolians...are prohibited and declared absolutely void...No person having one-eighth part or more of negro blood shall be permitted to marry any white person, nor shall any white person be permitted to marry any negro or person having one-eighth part or more of negro blood” (African American History, Jim Crow Laws).