Which Supreme Court case ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional?

• A. Roe v. Wade
• B. Brown v. Board of Education
• C. Loving v. Virginia
• D. Plessy v. Ferguson

Answer: (B)

The ruling in Brown v. Board of Education is pivotal in American legal history as it declared that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This landmark decision effectively overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which had upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Supreme Court in Brown concluded that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, causing a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

By recognizing the detrimental effects of segregation on African American children, the Court provided a clear and decisive stance against discriminatory practices in education, setting in motion a broader civil rights movement aimed at dismantling segregationist policies across the nation. This case is crucial as it not only impacted the education system but also laid the groundwork for future legal challenges against racial discrimination.