Separate But Equal

A partition separates white and black patrons at a movie theater in Washington DC.

History of Segregation in America
After the Civil War, millions of formerly enslaved African Americans hoped to join the larger society as full and equal citizens. Although some white Americans welcomed them, others used people’s ignorance, racism, and self-interest to sustain and spread racial divisions. By 1900, new laws and old customs in the North and the South had created a segregated society that condemned Americans of color to second-class citizenship.

Sources: Arthur Fellig (Weegee) Photographer, Weegee Collection