Oppressive systems are like shapeshifters, constantly evolving to keep people down, always finding new ways to hide in plain sight while they push us further away from justice.One of the most disturbing examples of this is the way Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were inspired by the racial segregation policies of the Jim Crow South in the United States. While this dark chapter of history shows how deeply white supremacy has been embedded across the globe, it also speaks to the resilience and power of Black resistance in the face of relentless oppression.

The Connection Between Jim Crow and Nazi Germany

Most people are aware of the horrors of Nazi Germany and its inhumane policies toward Jews, Romani people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others. What many don’t know is that when the Nazis were formulating their race laws, they looked to the United States for inspiration—particularly to the Jim Crow laws that had been enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchisement of Black people for decades.

The Nazi Party, driven by Adolf Hitler’s obsession with racial purity, admired how America had institutionalized white supremacy, especially in the South. Jim Crow laws legally separated Black people from white society, restricted voting rights, and reinforced racial hierarchies—policies that served as a blueprint for the Nuremberg Laws, which laid the foundation for the Holocaust.

Historians like James Q. Whitman have detailed how Nazi legal scholars studied U.S. racial laws when drafting their own laws of exclusion. While the Nazis took these ideas to an extreme with their ideology of racial purity, the influence of Jim Crow on Nazi race policies cannot be denied.

The Strength of Black Resistance

Despite being targeted by these brutal systems of segregation, Black people have always fought back. The Jim Crow era was marked not only by the violence and discrimination of white supremacy but also by the resilience of the Black community, which persisted in its fight for justice, equality, and freedom.

From the Civil Rights Movement to today’s global struggle for racial equity, the strength of Black people continues to challenge the legacies of systemic racism. The fact that even the Nazis looked to the U.S. for guidance in implementing their race laws underscores just how deep the roots of white supremacy run. But in the face of these attempts to oppress and dehumanize us, Black people have consistently risen above, finding power in unity, culture, and resistance.

Turning Pain into Power

While it is painful to acknowledge that Jim Crow laws served as an inspiration for some of the world’s worst racial atrocities, it’s important to remember that Black people have always turned pain into power. We are survivors of a system that was built to destroy us, yet here we stand—more powerful than ever. Our ancestors fought back against slavery, resisted Jim Crow, and continue to inspire movements today aimed at dismantling the remnants of these same systems.

By understanding this history, we reaffirm our commitment to never let these atrocities define who we are. Instead, we use this knowledge to fuel our desire for justice, equality, and Black empowerment. In this moment, we stand on the shoulders of those who fought before us, and it is up to us to continue pushing forward—to educate, uplift, and build stronger, more liberated Black communities.

Moving Forward with Empowerment

As we reflect on the ways in which Jim Crow influenced Nazi Germany, we must also celebrate the power of Black resilience. The story doesn’t end with oppression. It continues with empowerment, with every new generation rising up to undo the damage done by white supremacy and to build a future where Black people thrive.

We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Our communities are rich in strength, culture, and vision. Let’s continue to dismantle the legacies of white supremacy by educating ourselves and each other, supporting our own, and lifting up Black voices and stories.

By standing together in this movement, we are unstoppable.

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