The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
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Mississippi Black CodeVagrancy LawSection 1. Be it enacted by the legislature <strong>of</strong> the state <strong>of</strong> Mississippi, that all roguesand vagabonds, idle and dissipated persons, beggars, jugglers, or persons practis<strong>in</strong>gunlawful games or plays, runaways, common drunkards, common nightwalkers,pilferers, lewd, wanton, or lascivious persons, <strong>in</strong> speech or behavior, commonrailers and brawlers, persons who neglect their call<strong>in</strong>g or employment, misspendwhat they earn, or do not provide for the support <strong>of</strong> themselves or their families ordependents, and all other idle and disorderly persons, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g all who neglect alllawful bus<strong>in</strong>ess, or habitually misspend their time by frequent<strong>in</strong>g houses <strong>of</strong> illfame,gam<strong>in</strong>g houses, or tippl<strong>in</strong>g shops, shall be deemed and considered vagrantsunder the provisions <strong>of</strong> this act; and, on conviction there<strong>of</strong> shall be f<strong>in</strong>ed notexceed<strong>in</strong>g $100, with all accru<strong>in</strong>g costs, and be imprisoned at the discretion <strong>of</strong> thecourt not exceed<strong>in</strong>g ten days.Discussion Questions‣ How did Mississippi expand the def<strong>in</strong>ition <strong>of</strong> vagrancy?‣ Who decides who meets this def<strong>in</strong>ition?america<strong>in</strong>class.org 14
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