Jim Crow laws were a collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation. Named after a Black minstrel show character, these laws, which existed from the post-Civil War era until 1968, were meant to marginalize African Americans by denying them the right to vote, to hold jobs, to get an education, or to access other opportunities. Those who attempted to defy Jim Crow laws often faced arrests, fines, jail sentences, violence, and death. The roots of Jim Crow began as early as 1865, immediately following the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. “Black Codes” were strict local and state laws that detailed when, where, and how formerly enslaved people could work, and for how much compensation. Where voting rights were taken away, they were placed in indentured servitude. These laws also controlled where they could live.
In the present-day United States, many states are putting in place tighter voting restrictions, which largely affect African American voters. A new Jim Crow, which is against minority voters, is rising. So this has once gain become a struggle in 21st-century America.
This work, in ten brief sections, is a musical reflection on the state of voting rights in America. Each section reflects a different thought on this idea. The solo trumpet serves as a commentator and reflector on the musical ensemble.
