7. Legal Segregation: Plessy v. Ferguson
In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Plessy v. Ferguson decision established the infamous “separate but equal” doctrine, giving legal cover to segregation across every aspect of public life. This ruling legitimized a wave of discriminatory Jim Crow laws, institutionalizing racial separation in schools, transportation, and public spaces. Although the doctrine claimed to provide equality, facilities and opportunities for Black Americans were vastly inferior, deepening racial inequality for generations. Review the case at Oyez.
