Context: Racial Segregation in America

Definition of Racism

• Racism is the belief that one racial group is superior to another.
• In America, racism against black people has existed since the slave trade.
• Even after slavery ended in 1865, racial discrimination continued, especially in the southern states.

Segregation Laws in Alabama

• Alabama, like many southern states, enforced racial segregation.

  
  • Jim Crow laws prevented black people from:
  • Eating in the same restaurants as white people.
  • Drinking from the same water fountains.
  • Watching films in the same cinemas.
  • Playing in the same parks.
  • Attending the same schools.
  • Sitting at the front of buses.

Connection to the Novel

• The novel highlights racial injustice and discrimination.
• Black characters face prejudice and unequal treatment.
• Reflects the real-world struggles of African Americans in 1930s Alabama.

Exam Tip:

• When discussing the setting, link the economic struggles and racial segregation to the novel's characters and themes.