James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow Texas

Black Codes

Black Codes were modified slave codes that restricted the rights of the newly freed slaves. Their aim was to maintain both an inexpensive agricultural labor supply and white supremacy. Though the Black Codes were only legal until 1866, they set a precedent for future Jim Crow laws. While every Southern state had its own set of laws for persons of color, they all commonly prevented blacks from voting, holding political office, or serving on a jury. In addition, every state’s Black Code established vagrancy laws in which an unemployed black person would be arrested and put to work until his fine was paid off. Of course, any infraction while in prison would extend his time on the chain gang. It was the custom for states to use inmate labor to improve infrastructure. The Black Code for St. Landry Parish, Louisiana even made it illegal for black people to reside within the parish boundaries; they were only allowed to work there.  In Texas, those people who engaged in domestic labor were required to answer to their employer seven days a week, 24 hours a day, otherwise, they would be in violation of their work contract, face a fine, and be arrested for vagrancy. Finally, in all states, interracial marriage (miscegeny) was a crime.  The most common grounds for lynching was rape. The mere complaint was cause for the sudden disappearance of a black man since mob rule overlooked the civil liberty of due process. 
 

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