ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Racial segregation in the United States

Racial segregation in the United States is when people of different races were not allowed to live, work, or be in the same places as each other.

Imagine going to school or playing with your friends, but only if they looked like you. This is what life was like for many people in the past, especially for black people or people of other non-white races.

In some places, there were laws that said people of different races could not go to the same schools, use the same public restrooms, or sit in the same areas of public transportation. This meant that some people had to use different facilities than others just because of the color of their skin.

There were also places like restaurants, hotels, and even churches that only allowed people of one race to enter. This is called "segregation" because it separates people based on their race.

For many years, segregation was the way of life in many parts of the United States. It wasn't until later that people began to see how unfair it was and started fighting to change it. This led to the Civil Rights Movement, which helped end segregation and give everyone equal rights regardless of their race.