Question

What does the word promotion mean within the context of the article Jim Crow laws

Answer 1

One of the aspects of life that Jim Crow laws regulated was the fact that they forbade the "promotion of equality."

In this context, such promotion referred to the printing, publishing, or claiming that social equality was a desirable goal, or that intermarriage should be allowed. This was punished as a misdemeanor and required the payment of a hefty fine.