The Jim crow lawswere state and local laws in the US enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated racial segrigation in all public facilities, with a supposedly seperate but equal status for African Americans. In reality, this led to treatment and accommodations that were usually inferior to those provided for White Americans , systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages.

During the period after the Civil War Black entrepreneurs existed all over America. They ran restaurants, hotels, every conceivable business of which only the Black Barber shop remains. In every facet of life there was the Black owned business catering to Blacks. Money was kept in the Black community.

If one wanted to spend a week at the sea shore, there were Black hotels. If one wished to have a suit made, there were black tailors. It was only in parts of the country where there was not (or a very small) black population that a problem would arise.

In the days of segregation the “family” or “community” spirit was very strong. It had to be. The advent of integration eroded this community spirit and starved the Black entrepreneur.

The Jim Crow laws surfaces in the novel. The Blacks and whites goes to different churches