Question

3 of 43 of 4 Items Feature Unanimous Majority Opinion, Brown v. Board of Education, 1954 In approaching this problem, we cannot turn the clock back to 1868 when the [Fourteenth] Amendment was adopted, or even to 1896 when Plessy v. Ferguson was written. We must consider public education in the light of its full development and its present place in American life throughout the Nation. Only in this way can it be determined if segregation in public schools deprives these plaintiffs of the equal protection of the laws. Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. …In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms…. To separate [students] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to ever be undone. …Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority.… We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated … are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Question How did the Brown decision overturn Plessy v. Ferguson?(10 points) 0 / 10000 Word Limit Skip to navigation

Answer 1

The Brown v. Board of Education decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson primarily by challenging the legitimacy of the "separate but equal" doctrine that had been established in the latter case. Here are the key points of how the Brown decision accomplished this:

1. Focus on Public Education: The Brown ruling emphasized the crucial role of education in American society, asserting that access to quality education is essential for a child's success. The Court recognized that public education had evolved into a fundamental function of state and local government, which required it to be accessible to all without discrimination.

2. Psychological Impact of Segregation: The Brown decision introduced new evidence regarding the psychological effects of segregation on children, stating that separating students by race creates feelings of inferiority among minority students. This was a significant departure from the Plessy ruling, which did not consider the psychological consequences of racial segregation.

3. Rejection of "Separate but Equal": The Court declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, directly contradicting the Plessy v. Ferguson decision that upheld racial segregation as long as facilities were claimed to be equal. In Brown, the Court found that, in practice, segregated schools could not be equal, negating the foundational principle of Plessy.

4. Legal and Social Context: Brown placed the legality of segregation within the context of changing social and legal perceptions of race and equality. It acknowledged that the rationale for segregation that existed during the time of Plessy no longer reflected contemporary values and understandings of civil rights, thereby illustrating how societal views on race and equality had evolved since 1896.

In essence, the Brown decision fundamentally redefined the legal landscape regarding segregation, particularly in education, by establishing that the state could not provide separate facilities that inherently ensured inequality, thus leading to the legal dismantling of racial segregation across the nation.