Name__________________ Roots-The Next Generations Episode 2
Date___________
Directions-Read the following reading selection called, Segregation
in America. Answer the questions on pages 3 based on the reading.
Segregation in America
By Cindy Grigg
Caption: Separate but not equal photo
credit: John McCutcheon, 1905
1
Segregation is the separation of groups
of people by race. In the United States for
many years there were laws that separated
blacks from whites. Segregation began
after the Civil War. The war had ended
slavery. Many whites did not want to treat
black people as equal citizens. Many states passed segregation laws.
2
The laws, often called "Jim Crow" laws, meant that African Americans had to go to
separate schools. There were separate restaurants for blacks and whites. There were
separate bathrooms and even separate drinking fountains! Some laws made it almost
impossible for black men to vote.
3
African Americans challenged the laws. In 1896, Homer Plessy, a black man, bought
a first-class ticket on a train. The train's conductor told Plessy that he must move to the
car for black people at the back of the train. Mr. Plessy refused. He was arrested. He was
sent to prison. His case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In ruling on Plessy v
Ferguson, the Court decided that it was all right for businesses to force blacks to use
separate facilities, as long as the black facilities were "equal." As a result of this ruling,
segregation laws were considered to be legal under the doctrine of "separate but equal."
Most black people felt it was useless to challenge them. Segregation didn't change until
the middle of the twentieth century.
4
In 1951, a girl in Topeka, Kansas, was excited about going to school. Her family
asked permission for her to attend Sumner Elementary School, which was only seven
blocks away from their home. The school district said no. Twelve other parents also
wanted their children to attend Sumner Elementary. They wondered why their children
couldn't go to the school that was closest to their homes. The school district told all the
families no. Their children would have to walk six blocks and then ride a bus to Monroe
Elementary across town. Monroe Elementary was for black children. Sumner Elementary
was for whites.
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1
Name__________________ Roots-The Next Generations Episode 2
Date___________
The thirteen families took their case to the courts. It went all the way through the
court system. The Supreme Court heard the case, known as Brown v Board of Education,
in 1954. All nine Supreme Court Justices agreed. The Court ruled 9-0 in favor of the
black students. The Court said that even if the white and black schools were equal in
quality, the separation of whites and blacks was unconstitutional. The ruling meant that
now black children and white children could go to school together. The case was
important because it made segregation in public schools illegal, and it allowed other
segregation laws to be challenged. In 1955, Rosa Parks and others challenged segregation
on city buses. After the Brown v Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954,
things slowly began to change for blacks in America.
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Name__________________ Roots-The Next Generations Episode 2
Date___________
Directions- Segregation in America-Answer the following questions
based on what you have read from pages 1-2.
1. Segregation laws were also called:
Board of education laws
Plessy laws
Jim Crow laws
Black and white laws
2. The Supreme Court ruled that black schools were unequal to white schools in quality.
False
True
3.
Linda Brown was the only student in the Supreme Court case known as Brown v
Board of Education.
False
True
4.
Why was the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v Board of Education important?
5. What was an effect of the Plessy Supreme Court case?
Black children could not ride on trains.
Segregation laws were considered to be legal.
Black children could not go to school.
Plessy was not allowed to change schools.
3
Name__________________ Roots-The Next Generations Episode 2
Date___________
Directions-Answer the questions on below based on Episode 2,
Roots- The Next Generations.
1. How did Colonel Warner react to his son Jim marrying Carrie, a black
school teacher? Explain what he did when he heard the news from his
son.
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2. Who did Cynthia fall in love with? (Hint: initials are W.P.)
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3. What was Will Palmer’s Plans for the future?
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4. What happened to Lee Garnett?
(Hint: Why was Lee Garnet arrested and working on a “chain gang?”)
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5. What did you like least about this movie episode?
(Explain your answer.)
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