Why Are Black Codes Important

Since the end of the American Civil War in 1865, southern states began restricting the rights of blacks in what were known as black codes. Throughout the south, states passed laws that discriminated against colored people. These codes were passed in an attempt to secure white supremacy in America. The justification behind establishing black codes, the consequences they had on the slaves, and the reason as to why the black codes were eventually abolished are all necessary to know when discussing black codes.
The origin of the black codes stem from a need of white supremacy in the south. At the end of the Civil War, slavery was deemed illegal which angered the entire population of slave owners. To combat the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, white citizens in the south composed laws or “codes” which contained restrictions and punishments against colored people. The first states to enforce these black codes were Mississippi and South Carolina. Free blacks who resided in

According to Nadra Kareem Nittle, there is a direct link between black codes and the rate of black incarceration. She says, “From slavery onward, the criminal justice system has all too often created insurmountable hurdles for African Americans”12 Ever since the days of slavery, people of color have always been seen as inferior and it is no surprise that the mindset is somewhat the same today. The Civil Rights Movement, police brutality, and the high rates of black crime can all be traced directly to the use of black codes and other discriminating laws. Nittle further explains that “the Black Codes reveal that since slavery ended, those in power have used the criminal justice system as a vehicle to strip African Americans of their liberty” 13 The irreversible consequences stemming from the black codes include racial prejudices and a new wave of white supremacy in