On May 18, 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state-imposed Jim Crow laws brought forth by the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson case, effectively ruling that state-mandated segregation was not a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. In the Court’s majority opinion, Associate Justice Henry Brown stated, “the enforced separation of the races, as applied to the internal commerce of the state, neither abridges the privileges or immunities of the colored man, deprives him of his property without due process of law, nor denies him the equal protection of the laws, within the meaning of the fourteenth amendment” (Plessy v. Ferguson). This ruling introduced the “separate but equal” doctrine, complicating the post-slavery course of racial relations within American politics for generations to come. It wasn’t until 1954 that the “separate but equal” doctrine was struck down after the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education.
When the Jim Crow Era is discussed within our general education system, it’s handled with a sense of obsolescence and detachment. However, for most African-Americans, the Jim Crow Era is a lived experience for many of our older relatives. My parents were born during the Civil Rights Movement, and both my paternal and maternal grandparents grew up in the Deep South during the height of the Jim Crow Era. They were among the estimated six million African Americans who fled the Jim Crow South during the Great Migration, in hope of finding a better future. While they were alive, my grandparents would tell vivid stories detailing the oppression they were forced to endure. They recounted the times when they would be walking on the sidewalk, and if a white person were approaching, they would have to step into the street and not dare to make eye contact with that white person. I remember the times when they would tell me which southern towns weren’t safe for Black people to travel through, or how it wasn’t safe for Black people to be outside after dark. Hearing these stories, I would always think to myself, America will never return to such an awful time. There’s no way…
However, in 2023 it seems my inner reassurances were rooted in wishful thinking. On March 7, 2023, the Mississippi House Bill 1020 passed in the state Senate, posing significant implications for the judicial system and policing of Jackson, Mississippi’s population, which is approximately 83% Black. HB 1020 was initially proposed by Mississippi Representative Trey Lamar, who isn’t a resident of Jackson. He cited the high crime rates as justification for the proposed bill. When questioned about constituent cooperation behind the bill, Lamar stated, “I don’t live in Jackson … but you know what I like to do … I like to come to Jackson because it’s my capital city.” If put into law, HB 1020 would increase the presence of the Capitol Police throughout Jackson, and add five appointed judges to the Hinds County Court system. If you still don’t see the problem, here’s the run-down:
Lawmakers from overwhelmingly white districts are ratifying legislation that would disproportionately and negatively affect the Black population of Jackson, MI, without having to recourse to Jackson representatives. This would directly infringe upon the voting and political autonomy of the Black citizens living in Jackson, and redirect tax dollars away from their communities.
By referencing the Capital Complex Improvement District (CCID) boundaries, Mississippi legislators would create an entirely new district and court system, which would allow judges appointed (not democratically voted in) by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi State Court and prosecutors appointed by the Mississippi State Attorney General to oversee cases in Jackson. Furthermore, HB 1020 would divert millions in sales tax away from Jackson and into the pockets of the CCID. Essentially, this bill is a prime example of taxation without representation, with many coining it the “Jim Crow 2.0” Bill. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba blasted the constitutionality of HB 1020.
“It’s oppressive because it strips the right of Black folks to vote. It’s oppressive because it puts a military force over people that has no accountability to them. It’s oppressive because there will be judges who will determine sentences over people’s lives. It’s oppressive because it redirects their tax dollars to something they don’t endorse nor believe in,” Lumumba was quoted as saying.
As of right now, HB 1020 has moved back to the Mississippi House of Representatives to be revised. Seeing that it was already passed by the state Senate, it’s probable that it will be written into law.
If you think the madness stops there, you’re wrong.
Unfortunately, the spirit of Jim Crow is ravaging rampantly across the South. Last month, Tennessee lawmakers proposed HB 1245, which would allow inmates on death row the choice to be shot by a firing squad in lieu of electrocution and lethal injection. Representative Paul Sherrell (R - Sparta), who indicated overwhelming support for the Bill, further expressed “I think it's a very good idea, and I was just wondering if I could put an amendment on that would include hanging by a tree also? And I would like to sign onto your bill, sir." Considering 44% of Black people make up the incarcerated population in Tennessee and only 17% of the state’s general population (based on the 2010 U.S. Census), it’s clear that Sherrell was proposing a practice that salutes the Jim Crow Era.
While Sherrell has recently apologized for his repulsive statements, the damage and pain he caused is irreversible. At 64 years of age, Mr. Sherrell grew up in a time where lynching Black people was socially acceptable and even celebrated. It’s highly likely that Mr. Sherrell’s parents and grandparents were witnesses to lynchings. When you put his words into perspective, it’s chilling to see our close proximity to the Jim Crow Era. It’s easy to believe that the famous saying “history repeats itself” is overused, but when we’re witnessing the human rights of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities being actively stripped away, it’s hard to dispute the unfortunate truth behind it.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.