Hysteria has stricken the internet as countless reports from social media users indicate that Jim Crowe laws have returned in Mississippi.
To the surprise of anyone who thinks critically – the reports are in fact not true. Mississippi will not once again be segregated on the basis of racial characteristics.
Is Jim Crowe coming back in Mississippi? pic.twitter.com/z6JtapaWmb
— Cam Higby ?? (@camhigby) March 6, 2023
The story seems to have started with the Daily Beast which ran a headline in late February that said: “Jim Crow Is Resurrected in Mississippi.”
In all reality – what actually happened is that a house bill was passed that established a new district in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital. The district is majority white.
i know we’re all excited about mcr rn, but i need to reel it back in for a sec. in case y’all didn’t know, mississippi is attempting to put jim crow laws back in place. if they succeed, this WILL be the reinstating of segregation along the south, possibly all deep red states+
— pencey ?? misses AG (@VACANTNSTAlNED) March 25, 2023
The district judges would be appointed, rather than elected. On top of this, the capital police jurisdiction would be expanded to cover this new district.
Critics call this “the new Jim Crowe” because the citizenry of Jackson which is 83% black wouldn’t be able to vote for judges in this particular district that includes Jackson’s majority white neighborhoods.
https://twitter.com/chaoticbeauty77/status/1636959258439983106?s=46&t=Tp5226FSzGEaHzLuiMz01Q
Now, one may have legitimate concerns on the issue of judges being appointed as opposed to elected – however this is a far stretch from Jim Crowe segregation of the 1950s.
Black and white folk won’t be drinking from desperate water fountains, using separate bathrooms or eating at separate restaurants.
This was one of the darkest eras in American history – it’s appalling that anyone would use its infamy as a political fear tactic.
The foundational belief of Jim Crowe segregation was “separate but equal” which is not remotely related to this Bill.
It’s hard to believe anyone could read this legislation and somehow think that it is segregation.
Do people read legislation anymore? Or do they just read a CNN headline and assume we are in the dark ages? pic.twitter.com/7ZOFfzG8sd
— Cam Higby ?? (@camhigby) March 26, 2023
TikTok was flooded with videos from black creators, sobbing and afraid that their state would soon make them use separate utilities and treat them like second-class citizens because they had been misinformed by sensationalized headlines.
There were several videos made by white creators shocked by the (fake) news. “I thought she must have misunderstood…. No, she didn’t Jim Crowe is actually coming back..” one creator said.
The comment sections of these videos were flooded with blind trust and disgust. “I’m done with the U.S.,” one commenter said “MISSISSIPPI BROUGHT BACK WHAT NOW???” Another furiously said.
The blind trust in unverified claims from college-age TikTok users is astounding, as they say, lies travel three times faster than the truth.
The incendiary claims are likely an attempt to fearmonger and scare voters away from supporting conservatives. Why would anyone vote for a conservative if they think they are bringing Jim Crowe back in Mississippi?
This seems to be the plan, and it worked well. Here’s what some misinformed Twitter users had to say.
Mississippi is reinstalling Jim Crowe and it won’t be long before other states start following suit. They want to turn back the clock. This is what they mean by America First. https://t.co/KJ3F6qPvJj
— Charli Huxley (@ImKnotTheOne) March 4, 2023
Anyway, if you wanna get mad at me for blocking people bc they played that stupid wi*zard game bc it's "just a game" you're not paying attn. Her words have helped pass legislation and spurned hate against trans people. They quote her in getting bills passed.
— ZombeeAttack on Twitch (@attackzombee) March 19, 2023
It really is!
— Charli Huxley (@ImKnotTheOne) March 4, 2023