Jim Crow

Or jim crow

noun

1. a practice or policy of segregating or discriminating against Black people, as in public places, public vehicles, or employment.

2. Disparaging and Offensive.,  a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.

adjective

1. favoring or supporting a segregationist or discriminatory policy of Jim Crow.

2. for Black people only.

   a Jim Crow school.

jim crow

/ ˈdʒɪm ˈkrəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the policy or practice of segregating Black people

   2. ( as modifier )

      jim-crow laws

2. 1. a derogatory term for a Black person

   2. ( as modifier )

      a jim-crow saloon

3. an implement for bending iron bars or rails

4. a crowbar fitted with a claw

Jim Crow

1. A descriptive term for the segregation of institutions, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and the like. It also refers to the laws that required racial segregation.

Other Word Forms

• jim-crowism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jim crow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; so called from the name of a song sung by Thomas Rice (1808–60) in a minstrel show

Word History and Origins

Origin of jim crow¹

C19: from Jim Crow, name of song used as the basis of an act by Thomas Rice (1808–60), American entertainer

Example Sentences

The experts recall with amazement and appreciation the level of curiosity and celebrity Thurgood commanded in courtrooms across the Jim Crow South, charming even the bigoted lawyers and judges whose unjust rulings he challenged.

From Salon

Passed in 1878, the act was designed to prevent the military from being used to support Jim Crow in the South.

From Salon

It has precedent in the last 100 years of the history of conservatism, which, for a time, was not just in the Republican Party, but also included the Jim Crow Southern Democrats.

From Salon

Ostensibly this censorship targets books with queer content but can easily be used to remove books that accurately depict American slavery, the Jim Crow era or any inconvenient truth, really.

From Salon

Jim Crow infested all parts of Prince Powe’s life when he was growing up in Mobile, Ala., in the 1950s — even the realm of God.

From Los Angeles Times