Plessy v. Ferguson & Brown v. Board of Education Comparison, Essay Example

Plessy v. Ferguson was a step back in racial relations in the United States because it sent the message that it is constitutional to prevent the integration of different races in the United States. Plessy v. Ferguson implied that it is possible to offer the same services to different races without sacrificing quality or conditions. The judges argued that the segregation laws didn’t imply inferiority of other races and it was just a psychological thinking of the non-whites.

Brown v. Board of Education admitted the fact that segregation made it possible to discriminate against non-white and was unconstitutional. The decision claimed that equality is not possible under ‘different but equal’ policy because it promotes division. The ruling made it clear that constitution provided equal rights to every citizen and race could not be used as the basis to provide different services to different races. The ruling acknowledged the reality which was ignored by Plessy v. Ferguson that inferior quality services were being provided to non-whites including restrooms and public transport.

Brown v. Board understood the importance of racial integration towards equality of all U.S. citizens. Brown v. Board also paved the way for civil rights movement because it recognized the fact that segregation would never allow fair treatment of minorities and the only way to ensure a fair society is to view everyone as the same and give them unrestricted access to all public and private places and services.