Question

Justice John Harlan’s dissent to the court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson was based on what premise?

Plessy was of mixed heritage.
The Constitution is “color-blind.”
The train cars were not “equal”.
The judge’s verdict was biased.

Answer 1

The Constitution is “color-blind.”

Harlan’s dissent argued that the 14th Amendment guarantees equal citizenship and forbids racial classifications — opposing the Court’s “separate but equal” rationale.