Signage is defined as any kind of visual graphics/depictions created to display information to a particular group. Often this can be a very effective tool in solidifying and codifying economic, political and social mores. In terms of communication, the receiver can make cognitive decisions based on the information provided by those signs. During the Jim Crow period in the United States, Americans were bombarded with de jure and de facto prompts to reinforce the racial etiquette. The regional practices signified in the white/colored labels were instrumental in creating a national conversation about race in America, prompting one to question the role of signage in perpetuating and/or challenging racial discrimination.

The Library of Congress’ digital website includes a subset of photographs displaying some of these signs of Jim Crow entitled: “Photographs of Signs Enforcing Racial Discrimination: Documentaiton by Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photographs.” This collection contains 30 signage photographs coming from different parts of the United States (mainly the southern and midwestern regions). Go to the following website to view the images:

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/085_disc.html

Students will examine 10 specifically-designated images from this colleciton as a basis for responding to the following prompt in a short-paper format:

“Consider how these images (signs) serve as visual documents (records) of the “White Supremacy” perspective which undergirds Jim Crow society.”

Please view the following images from the collection: Choose 10 of the signs to evaluate (do not choose any signage which deals with Native Americans).

After you have critically examined these 10 images via the Library of Congress website, write a three-page (3), double-spaced essay using 12-point font, which responds to the prompt above in boldface type. A “Photo Analysis Worksheet” designed by the National Archives and Records Administration shall be posted to Blackboard to help students examine the 10 designated images/signs. Although you are going to analyze 10 images, in a 3 page paper, you can only really talk about 3 or 4 of the 10. I good paper should probably only deal with three of the 10 images. See the sample paper.

This essay should contain a well-developed thesis sentence which is logically supported by referring to the 10-specified images/signs. Although students will have the option of examining the “entire” collection, the framework for the essay must be the 10 images specified. However, students should appropriately incorporate and cite (using in-text footnotes or endnotes in the Chicago/Turabian format)”relevant” material from the course and other outside learning. Student essays may reflect on the following: the messages conveyed in the signs, the potential impact of these signs, and what these images tell you about the Jim Crow era. Essays may also include any questions students may still have after examining these images. Please put page numbers on your essay. Upload your completed essay by 11:59 on March 3 .