The Jim Crow laws were a series of state and local statutes enacted in the United States, primarily in the South, from the late 19th century until the 1960s. These laws enforced racial segregation, meaning that people of different races were required to use separate facilities, such as schools, restaurants, and public transportation. The name "Jim Crow" originated from a blackface character in the 19th century, symbolizing the discrimination faced by African Americans. These laws were designed to maintain white supremacy and limit the rights of African Americans after the end of Reconstruction. They effectively disenfranchised many black voters through measures like literacy tests and poll taxes. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought against these injustices