What did the Supreme Court rule in Brown v. Board of Education?

In Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal, which effectively overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. The ruling, delivered in 1954, emphasized that segregation in public schools created a sense of inferiority among African American children that undermined their educational opportunities. This decision was pivotal in the civil rights movement as it provided a legal foundation for challenging segregation and discrimination.

By declaring that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, the Court recognized the detrimental effects of segregation on African American students and thus played a crucial role in advancing the cause of equality in education. This landmark case led to the desegregation of schools across the United States and set a precedent for further civil rights advancements.