Legal School Segregation

Definition

Legal school segregation refers to the practice of separating students based on their race or ethnicity in publicly funded educational institutions. This discriminatory practice was prevalent in many parts of the United States until it was declared unconstitutional.

Related terms

Brown v. Board of Education: The landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, setting off changes towards desegregation across the country.

Jim Crow Laws: Laws enacted in southern states after Reconstruction that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans until they were invalidated during the Civil Rights Movement.

Plessy v. Ferguson: The Supreme Court case in 1896 that established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, which allowed for racial segregation as long as separate facilities were provided for different races.