Jim Crow (character)

Jim Crow was a theatrical character popularized by white minstrel performer Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice, starting in the 1830s. Rice claimed he based the character on a song and dance performed by a Black stable worker, though this is largely unsubstantiated and likely a romanticized origin story. The Jim Crow character was a stereotypical portrayal of Black people, characterized by exaggerated physical features, tattered clothing, and a shuffling gait. He spoke in a crude, broken dialect and was often depicted as lazy, ignorant, and comical.

The Jim Crow character became immensely popular and was widely imitated by other minstrel performers. He quickly became a prevalent and deeply damaging caricature of Black Americans in popular culture. The character's popularity contributed to and reinforced negative stereotypes about Black people, shaping public perceptions and contributing to the dehumanization that underpinned the subsequent Jim Crow laws.

While the character himself faded from active stage performance over time, the name "Jim Crow" became synonymous with the systemic and legalized segregation and discrimination against African Americans that prevailed in the Southern United States from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century. The name served as a shorthand for the oppressive laws and customs designed to maintain white supremacy and disenfranchise Black citizens.