How much of a Negative Impact did Racial Integrity Act of 1924 have on "American Society"?

2016-03-01T14:08:57-05:00

Racial integrity laws were passed by the General Assembly to protect "whiteness" against what many Virginians perceived to be the negative effects of race-mixing. They included the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which prohibited interracial marriage and defined as white a person "who has no trace whatsoever of any blood other than Caucasian"; the Public Assemblages Act of 1926, which required all public meeting spaces to be strictly segregated; and a third act, passed in 1930, that defined as black a person who has even a trace of African American ancestry. This way of defining whiteness as a kind of purity in bloodline became known as the "one drop rule." These laws arrived at a time when a pseudo-science of white superiority called eugenics gained support by groups like the Anglo-Saxon Clubs of America, which argued that the mixing of whites, African Americans, and Virginia Indians could cause great societal harm, despite the fact that the races had been intermixed since European settlement. From his position as the state registrar of vital statistics, Walter A. Plecker micromanaged the racial classifications of Virginians, often worrying that blacks were attempting to pass as white. Virginia Indians were particularly incensed by the laws, and by Plecker in particular, because the state seemed intent on removing any legal recognition of Indian identity in favor of the broader category "colored." After one failed try, lawmakers largely achieved this goal in 1930, drawing negative reaction from the black press. The Racial Integrity Act remained on the books until 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Loving v. Virginia, found its prohibition of interracial marriage to be unconstitutional. In 2001, the General Assembly denounced the act, and eugenics, as racist.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 1 at 2016 2:37 PM

2016-03-01T14:37:12-05:00

I will not deny there were negatives with all the movements and laws that have brought us (races/genders/religion) to a more equal footing, but the fact is, i am proud to live in a country where these things are issues and are discussed! countries where these are not issues and/or are not discussed only have it so because it is accepted and enforced by law. That, is a world i do not want my children to be exposed to yet i feel our countrymen are fighting each other to bring that back into our country.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Mar 1 at 2016 3:50 PM

2016-03-01T15:50:38-05:00

I've never heard of a Eugenics Certificate before. Also, I never thought of it before reading this post, but it even sounds like "colored" may have referred to anyone other than white at the time (i.e., not just Black). As with most history, it's interesting to learn and really makes me glad that we've learned from it. I firmly believe that racists (of all colors) are a dying breed. I just wish they'd die (euphemistically speaking) a little faster.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 4:09 PM

2016-03-01T16:09:44-05:00

Eugenics was an interesting theory and a crazy time. Virginia took it to whole 'nother level. Concepts like the "one drop" rule come from that time. Categorizing "races", any Irish out there might be surprised to learn that for a while they were considered a unique race; lower on the totem pole than blacks and Jews.
If anybody is interested in podcasts, the "American history" radio show from the university of Virginia releases their broadcasts in podcast form. There's an episode on eugenics from about a year ago.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 4:33 PM

2016-03-01T16:33:48-05:00

SPC Andrew Griffin Your intro ends at "their" I would like to read the rest of it, the beginning sounds interesting.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Mar 1 at 2016 4:53 PM

2016-03-01T16:53:09-05:00

I have ran out of LIKES for the day Family! I will LIKE and comment Early in the AM!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 5:00 PM

2016-03-01T17:00:57-05:00

SPC Andrew Griffin It's hard to believe it took until 2001 for the act to be denounced as racist. Racism does still exist, unfortunately I don't think it will ever go away. We can however each do our individual part by the way we live and the examples we set. We should never forget that children mirror what they see.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-03-01T20:18:46-05:00

Very interesting. I wonder how much most planned parenthood supporters know about Margaret Sanger's continuous support of and contributions to the eugenics movement.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Mar 1 at 2016 9:45 PM

2016-03-01T21:45:02-05:00

There's always a government crony with a stick up his ass. He dead by now and surely his sons have taken his place. I hope however that everybody realizes that not everyone has a stick up his ass. Racism exists in the world because there are races. If you could stop everyone from being self aware would you? I wouldn't. Imagine mindless automaton drones unaware of there culture and heritage. Doesn't mean we don't show each other respect for each other's human rights.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Mar 11 at 2021 2:34 PM

2021-03-11T14:34:11-05:00

Brought to you by yesterdays democrats who are now todays GOP.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Mar 11 at 2021 4:01 PM

2021-03-11T16:01:59-05:00

I didn't live back than. But we have a greater amount of racism and division going on by all sides now for sure. I suspect, it is on purpose.
With the murder of our leadership in the 60's, including Malcom X, we are witnessing how the American ship was steered towards sub-cultures, larger government and division along skin color. But that is not the only issues we are facing as a nation. The wokeness topic, Ebonics as a language, the police are out to murder us narrative helps division even more.
I'm not writing there is no racism or there is no murder at the hands of police. I am writing the narrative is a lie. For example: Black males are most at risk of being murdered by other black males. That is a fact. How did that happen? No one informs on that issue.
If we are to survive as a nation, our country will have to stop hating by color alone. If we are going to hate, we should hate due to action. One police officer murdering does not make all police officers a murderer. Just because I am white, does not make me the Grand Cyclops.
Too much money is given to radical groups. La Raza, the KKK and BLM to name a few. Now is the time for Malcom X from what I see and read.
There is so much that was not right before the 60's and after the 60's. It will take strong men and women who want peace to take a stand for it, the moral law and equality under the law. Otherwise, we will be like 1917 Russia.