HISTORY IMPACTING TODAY
Why The “Black Families Were Better Off During Jim Crow” Myth Persists
They claim America’s dark cloud of racism has a silver lining
The notion that Black families were better off during the Jim Crow era than today may sound absurd. And yet, there are some Americans who believe this myth lock, stock, and barrel. Case in point, Byron Donalds, the U.S. Representative for Florida and V.P. contender for the presumed Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, suggested the dark cloud of Jim Crow had a silver lining. "You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together." Furthermore, Donalds claimed "Black people were more conservative-minded" then and "voted conservatively." Nevertheless, these assertions overlook historical context.
The Jim Crow Era abruptly halted the racial progress established during the Reconstruction Era. So, it’s historically inaccurate to claim the Black family faired better during this period. Public spaces and private businesses were racially segregated throughout the South. Consequently, the vast majority of Black people who lived in redlined communities had limited resources and opportunities. However, as Donalds’ comments demonstrate, some conservatives hold a rosy view of America’s past, one that romanticizes the nuclear family…
