All Negroes shall be prohibited from voting, holding public office, practicing law, medicine, or teaching in any class above the grade of grammar school, and they shall be taxed 100 per cent of all sums in excess of $10,000 per family per year which they may earn or in any other manner receive.
In Sinclair Lewis's novel "It Can't Happen Here," a stark and discriminatory policy is outlined that prohibits African Americans from participating in numerous aspects of public life. The quote emphasizes restrictions against voting, public office, and various professions, including law and medicine, effectively limiting opportunities for Black individuals to contribute to society and access resources.
This draconian measure also includes a heavy tax burden on African Americans, imposing a 100 percent tax on earnings above a certain threshold. This not only serves as a punitive financial policy but also reinforces systemic inequality, reflecting the disturbing potential for oppressive governmental control over marginalized communities.
