It was dark that night. The actor danced and performed in the town square. He wore black face paint, a colorful suit and made his audience laugh by pretending to be unintelligent. His character was supposed to appear insane and stupid. His character's name was Jim Crow. In the late 1800s, several anti-black laws were nicknamed “Jim Crow laws.” These laws stated that black and white Americans were to be separated in all aspects of life. Under these laws, it was legal for African Americans to be treated worse than everyone else. Jim Crow laws were unfair to African Americans because they replaced slavery with racial segregation, little attention was paid to groups opposed to these laws, and they received unjust punishments. In place of slavery came racial segregation. “Jim Crow laws governed almost every aspect of life for African Americans living under the Mason-Dixon Line. » (Carson and Bonk) Slavery meant that an African American's life was controlled by its owner. Jim Crow laws make the government their owner; therefore, the government controlled African Americans. “Jim Crow laws allowed the legal segregation of African Americans. From that point on, African Americans were treated worse than ever. » Some historians argue that African Americans were treated better under slavery (in the 1800s) than under Jim Crow laws. Before Jim Crow laws, slavery existed. They were both supported by the idea of ​​black inferiority; both were also dominated primarily by the belief in white superiority. But not everyone believed in white superiority, but in equality. There were multiple groups for and against this type of segregation. “The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People... middle of paper ......rnment was concerned about the deaths and segregation that were currently occurring at that time. As the years went by, African Americans became less and less cared for and more and more hated. Jim Crow laws discriminated against African Americans because they received unjust punishments, no one cared about the opinions of African Americans, and they replaced slavery with laws that encouraged racial inequality. Jim Crow laws were established because people wanted to separate African Americans and this allowed them to live happier lives and only allowed their lifestyle to become more contented. They were treated as if they were inferior to others, couldn't find work and couldn't sit wherever they wanted on a bus. Racist groups did this because they believed a lie: They believed that African Americans were nothing. But they were completely and ignorantly wrong.