Jim Crow Laws
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was one of the worst economic collapses of all time. This occurred during the 1920-1930's when the stock market crashed. In addition to this, a severe drought was occurring, which made it difficult to farm, and caused enormous dust storms in the middle of the country, an event that was known as the Dust Bowl. People lost jobs,homes, and money. This impacted the Logan family very much. They were not getting that much money and times were hard for them. With papa working on the railroad, mama a teacher, and the cotton they were living the hard life. Luckily for them they owned their own land. They had a long walk to school and there was always people trying to steal the land like Harlan Granger. Their school didn't have enough money to afford new books and there were students from all ages in the same classroom.
Abolishment of slavary
The end of slavary was one giant step for African Americans but unfortunately at the time they were still not treated equally to whites. They still couldn't vote, drink from the same water fountain, and many other things that they had to do different from whites. "So now, even though seventy years have passed since slavery, most white people still think of us as they did then—that we’re not as good as they are" (Taylor #217) "On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State in rebellion against the United States, shall be forever free" - Abraham Lincoln
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." -The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
Lynching
Lynching is (of a mob) kill (someone), especially by hanging, for an alleged offense with or without a legal trial. "“Heard tell they lynched a boy a few days ago at Crosston.” (Taylor #80) lynching was something that happened in this story. If it wasn't for Papa, TJ would have been lynched and would have died. He was given a fair trial because papa set the cotton on fire so the men who were going to lynch him had to go and help put the fire out.