What principles, constitutional or otherwise, were used to justify "separate but equal"? How might the Supreme Court justices who struck down this idea in Brown v. Board of Education have arrived at that decision?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The principle of "separate but equal" was used to justify racial segregation in the United States, particularly in the context of public facilities and education. This principle was based on the idea that while facilities and institutions could be racially segregated, as long as they were equal in quality, the segregation was constitutional and fair.

The constitutional principle used to justify "separate but equal" was based on the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, which states that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. However, this principle was flawed in practice, as the segregated facilities and institutions were almost never truly equal in quality, with African Americans consistently receiving inferior treatment and resources compared to their white counterparts.

In the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the Supreme Court justices arrived at the decision to strike down the idea of "separate but equal" by recognizing that racial segregation in public education was inherently unequal and violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. The justices acknowledged that the separate facilities for black and white students were not truly equal, and that the segregation itself created a sense of inferiority among African American children.

The decision in Brown v. Board of Education marked a turning point in the fight against racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, and it set a precedent for the dismantling of segregation in all areas of public life. The justices' decision was based on a reexamination of the constitutional principles and a recognition of the inherent inequality and injustice of the "separate but equal" doctrine.

What Principles, Constitutional or Otherwise, Were Used to Justify "Separate