Dehumanizing refers to the act of treating individuals or groups as if they were less than human, denying them their basic rights and dignity. In the context of U.S. history, it often refers to practices that stripped African Americans of their humanity and perpetuated racial inequality.
Related terms
Dred Scott v. Sandford: This Supreme Court case in 1857 ruled that enslaved African Americans were property and not citizens, reinforcing the dehumanization of Black people.
Three-Fifths Compromise: An agreement during the drafting of the Constitution which counted each enslaved individual as three-fifths of a person for determining representation in Congress.
Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws enacted after Reconstruction that enforced racial segregation and further marginalized African Americans.