Plessy to Brown: A Transformation in American Values
In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Court applied a narrow interpretation of the 14th Amendment to rule that racial segregation in public facilities did not violate the equal protection of rights under the doctrine of “separate but equal,” meaning that segregation was legal as long as the facilities offered were equal. The court held that the 14th Amendment was drafted to protect the equality of the two races under the law, not to elevate the social standing of an inferior race; although it also went on to assert that segregation laws were not meant to imply the inferiority of blacks.
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In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Court applied a broader interpretation of the 14th Amendment and overturned the decision in Plessy v. Ferguson by holding that the doctrine of “separate but equal” had no place in public schools and that segregated educational facilities are inherently unequal no matter their equality in all things tangible or intangible.
But the Court deciding Brown relied less on law that on moral values. The Court’s decision reflected the great changes that were already taking place in race relations in the nation. The segregation of African Americans from the rest of society was no longer the universally accepted norm.
The Court also held that education is a fundamental right, that no child can succeed in life without an education, and that the state has the obligation to provide this education, and do so to all its citizens on equal terms.
Finally, the Court wrote in its opinion that segregation can engender a sense of inferiority and impact the educational development of the child. Therefore, to deprive a child from the benefit of an integrated school system is morally indefensible.
