Here's a more nuanced overview of the Northern states' attitudes toward segregation:
1. Legal Framework:
- Most Northern states had officially abolished slavery before the American Civil War. There was a broader acknowledgment of the rights and equality of African Americans, which led to the absence of laws that explicitly mandated segregation.
- However, Northern states had their legal challenges. For instance, some states' constitutions did not initially grant suffrage to African Americans. It took amendments and legal changes to establish legal equality.
2. De Facto Segregation:
- While segregation laws may not have been as pervasive as in Southern states, Northern cities were nonetheless segregated.
- Residential segregation was rampant due to discriminatory practices like racially restrictive covenants, racial zoning, and redlining (refusal of financial services based on race).
3. Social Customs and Institutions:
- Segregation was practiced subtly in social and institutional settings. There were segregated churches, swimming pools, restaurants, hotels, and schools, primarily as a result of entrenched beliefs and norms.
4. Resistance and Activism:
- Despite segregation, Northern states were also centers of activism and resistance against racial discrimination. Various organizations and individuals worked towards equal rights and opportunities.
- Many Northern civil rights leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, and others, emerged as prominent voices for racial justice.
5. Political Influence:
- Northern states played a crucial role in the federal policies and legislation that fought segregation. They supported anti-segregation measures on a national scale, most notably through the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In conclusion, while Northern states were not as explicitly segregationist as Southern states, segregation did persist in various forms. It took years of efforts from civil rights activists, community organizers, and legislative changes to gradually break down segregation in the Northern states and move toward a more inclusive and equal society.