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.

Derived Forms

• ˈjim-ˈcrowism, 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

This mass incarceration is destroying the Black community -- it is, as Michelle Alexander writes, the New Jim Crow.

From The Daily Beast

Thus, during Jim Crow, black men were routinely hanged, castrated, and lynched for alleged sexual assaults against white women.

From The Daily Beast

Each working in its own way was essential to ending Jim Crow in the South.

From The Daily Beast

Slowly, still falteringly but inexorably, Jim Crow justice was disappearing in the South.

From The Daily Beast

America has obviously made tremendous progress since the days of Jim Crow, Bull Connor, and voter intimidation at the polls.

From The Daily Beast

She has about as much intention of eloping with him as a little girl might have of eloping with a pasteboard Jim Crow.

From Project Gutenberg

If you were to have a frank explanation with her, Blanche would very soon throw Jim Crow out of the window.

From Project Gutenberg

Then—quick as a wink—there was another loud noise, just like that day when Jim Crow fell in the cornfield.

From Project Gutenberg

From the Jim Crow a drowsy porcupine trundled away bristling.

From Project Gutenberg

No air was ever at the same time so silly and so successful as "Jim Crow."

From Project Gutenberg