Plessy vs. Ferguson
By Nicole H.
OVERVIEW
Plessy v. Ferguson is a very controversial court case that took place in 1896. This case tested the constitutionality of the Jim Crow Laws. The Plessy v. Ferguson case came up with a clause that was centered around the idea of society being separate but equal. This statement may boggle many, but it means to say that as long as the blacks and the whites had the same kind of facilities, they could keep them separate. The Plessy v. Ferguson case was extremely controversial because it violated Fourteenth Amendment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The background to the Plessy vs. Ferguson case begins in 1890 when the Louisiana legislature passed the Separate Car Act, which was an act that made separate but equal requirements for blacks and white on railroads. This act appeared at a time where more people were growing more in favor of segregation. As the Jim Crow segregation laws were becoming more popular, some people who belonged to the African-American community were definitely aware of the legal challenges to the Jim Crow laws. In response to this, Booker T. Washington delivered a speech. This speech, 1895 Atlantic Exposition, approached the issue in a way that stressed gradual accommodation. There also were some African Americans who did want to challenge Jim Crow. Homer Plessy was a shoemaker who was one of the challengers. Plessy worked with a citizens' committee. This citizens' committee was a civil disobedience group made up of a variety of African Americans and Creoles. On June 7, 1892, Plessy attempted to stand up for himself by sitting in a white section of the train. According to the Supreme Court, Plessy was "one-eighth black" and he could easily pass for white. When the conductor asked Plessy to move from the white section, he refused. This refusal led to his arrest. His arrest was for his violation of the Separate Car Act. Albion W. Tourgée, a famous lawyer, took the case all the way to the Supreme Court because Plessy lost his challenge to the law in Louisiana.
TRIAL
Justice Brown's personal thoughts rejected Plessy's idea that the Louisiana statute violated the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition on slavery. On a more serious note, Justice Brown first considered Plessy's Fourteenth Amendment argument, but then also rejected it. Brown stated the differentiation between laws that political equality and social equality, which were laws that separated races in schools, theaters, and railroads. Brown concluded that the Louisiana statute was a reasonable regulation. This law was nearly the same as Congress' segregation of schools in the District of Colombia. Hearing that Plessy thought the separation of the two races marks the color race with a badge of inferiority, Brown quickly denied that belief. Brown stated that there was no mark of inferiority within the act.
During the case, Justice Harlan made a famous speech that is still remembered today. In his speech, he stated that the white race is viewed as the dominant race in America. The problem, however, is that the constitution states that there is no superior or dominant ruling class in America. Respecting the civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The law sees man as man and does not discriminate against his surroundings or color of his skin. Harlan argued that Louisiana was not fit to make distinctions between citizens based on race. It is very disappointing and sad a figure of authority has concluded that it is appropriate for a state to base their civil rights only on the basis of race.
After Browns statement that there was no inferiority to the blacks, he continued to emphasize more on Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Exposition speech. He stated that legislation or Supreme Court's decision could not conquer social attitudes.
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This court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, legitimized the main belief of segregation. This case should make many aware of how closely the constitution is connected with its surrounding political culture. The case also added to a political culture of segregation. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People disputed many cases from the 1910s until Brown vs. Board of Education limited or overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. By the 1930s, the Supreme Court was slowly distancing itself from some of the case's implications. Other court cases that dealt with segregation issues were Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada and Shelley v. Kraemer. Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada found that the state had to give an education inside the state to people of color. Shelley v. Kraemer fought against the Supreme Court who prohibited African Americans from buying property in white neighborhoods.
The background to the Plessy vs. Ferguson case begins in 1890 when the Louisiana legislature passed the Separate Car Act, which was an act that made separate but equal requirements for blacks and white on railroads. This act appeared at a time where more people were growing more in favor of segregation. As the Jim Crow segregation laws were becoming more popular, some people who belonged to the African-American community were definitely aware of the legal challenges to the Jim Crow laws. In response to this, Booker T. Washington delivered a speech. This speech, 1895 Atlantic Exposition, approached the issue in a way that stressed gradual accommodation. There also were some African Americans who did want to challenge Jim Crow. Homer Plessy was a shoemaker who was one of the challengers. Plessy worked with a citizens' committee. This citizens' committee was a civil disobedience group made up of a variety of African Americans and Creoles. On June 7, 1892, Plessy attempted to stand up for himself by sitting in a white section of the train. According to the Supreme Court, Plessy was "one-eighth black" and he could easily pass for white. When the conductor asked Plessy to move from the white section, he refused. This refusal led to his arrest. His arrest was for his violation of the Separate Car Act. Albion W. Tourgée, a famous lawyer, took the case all the way to the Supreme Court because Plessy lost his challenge to the law in Louisiana.
TRIAL
Justice Brown's personal thoughts rejected Plessy's idea that the Louisiana statute violated the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition on slavery. On a more serious note, Justice Brown first considered Plessy's Fourteenth Amendment argument, but then also rejected it. Brown stated the differentiation between laws that political equality and social equality, which were laws that separated races in schools, theaters, and railroads. Brown concluded that the Louisiana statute was a reasonable regulation. This law was nearly the same as Congress' segregation of schools in the District of Colombia. Hearing that Plessy thought the separation of the two races marks the color race with a badge of inferiority, Brown quickly denied that belief. Brown stated that there was no mark of inferiority within the act.
During the case, Justice Harlan made a famous speech that is still remembered today. In his speech, he stated that the white race is viewed as the dominant race in America. The problem, however, is that the constitution states that there is no superior or dominant ruling class in America. Respecting the civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The law sees man as man and does not discriminate against his surroundings or color of his skin. Harlan argued that Louisiana was not fit to make distinctions between citizens based on race. It is very disappointing and sad a figure of authority has concluded that it is appropriate for a state to base their civil rights only on the basis of race.
After Browns statement that there was no inferiority to the blacks, he continued to emphasize more on Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Exposition speech. He stated that legislation or Supreme Court's decision could not conquer social attitudes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, legitimized the main belief of segregation. This case should make many aware of how closely the constitution is connected with its surrounding political culture. The case also added to a political culture of segregation. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People disputed many cases from the 1910s until Brown vs. Board of Education limited or overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. By the 1930s, the Supreme Court was slowly distancing itself from some of the case's implications. Other court cases that dealt with segregation issues were Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada and Shelley v. Kraemer. Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada found that the state had to give an education inside the state to people of color. Shelley v. Kraemer fought against the Supreme Court who prohibited African Americans from buying property in white neighborhoods.