White and colored drinking fountain sign 2.75" x 8" cast iron

White and Colored Drinking Fountain Cast Iron Sign

Description: A poignant artifact from America's past, this "White and Colored" drinking fountain sign stands as a reminder of the era of racial segregation. Made from cast iron, the sign is predominantly black, contrasted sharply by white lettering which delineates spaces based on race.

Product Details:

• Dimensions: 2.75" x 8"
• Material: Cast iron
• Color: Black sign with white lettering
• Usage: Designated drinking fountains based on race

Brief History of Segregated Drinking Fountains: Segregated drinking fountains became a widespread practice in the U.S., particularly in the South, following the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. The end of the 19th century and the advent of the 20th century saw the rise of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation in public facilities, under the guise of "separate but equal." This so-called equality, however, was a facade, as facilities for Black Americans were often inferior in quality and maintenance.

Drinking fountains, like other public amenities, were segregated, and signs such as this one were used to enforce these divisions. This physical manifestation of racism was not merely about water but represented a broader system of oppression, denigrating Black Americans and establishing white supremacy.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and countless others, ultimately challenged and dismantled these overt systems of segregation. Today, signs like this are grim reminders of America's past, often preserved in museums or private collections to bear witness to the history of racial division and the fight for equality.