Describe the social and political impact of the precedents and antecedents of the Plessy case. How were the results of Plessy overcome, if at all?
Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896), is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision, upholding the constitutionality of state laws, requiring racial segregation in private businesses, particularly railroads, under the doctrine of Separate but Equal. The research within this paper, seeks to examine the effects of Plessy vs. Ferguson, on modern
American and African American thought and culture both then and now. Specifically, the paper will focus on the trauma associated with the act of alienating an entire race, and uses history as a guide to trace the psyche of Americans, both Whites and Blacks before and after Plessy vs. Ferguson spanning to present. Finally, I also intend on examining any underlying sentiments present in contemporary moral values, as a result of this case, of both the White and Black populations of America, as pertaining to their beliefs of their own group and extending to the views each group holds for the other. Before I begin this intense discussion, it is important to first establish the root of
Plessy vs. Ferguson and the events that led up to its existence in the first place. Therefore to analyze its occurrence, the cruel phenomenon of slavery and its causes has to be first examined. Slavery has been described as an economic political and social institution, defined by laws and customs and the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude.
Some characters of slavery are, the people are regarded as property, are forced to serve, often through violence, and they are subject to their owner's will. Arguable, the most famous and inhumane example of this kind of slavery was found in America, during the Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth century. During this time, America's southern states were dominated by slavery, and the vast majority of plantations were essentially run by black slaves, imported from Africa. Firstly, the institution of slavery is as old as civilization. It has existed in
American and African American thought and culture both then and now. Specifically, the paper will focus on the trauma associated with the act of alienating an entire race, and uses history as a guide to trace the psyche of Americans, both Whites and Blacks before and after Plessy vs. Ferguson spanning to present. Finally, I also intend on examining any underlying sentiments present in contemporary moral values, as a result of this case, of both the White and Black populations of America, as pertaining to their beliefs of their own group and extending to the views each group holds for the other. Before I begin this intense discussion, it is important to first establish the root of
Plessy vs. Ferguson and the events that led up to its existence in the first place. Therefore to analyze its occurrence, the cruel phenomenon of slavery and its causes has to be first examined. Slavery has been described as an economic political and social institution, defined by laws and customs and the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude.
Some characters of slavery are, the people are regarded as property, are forced to serve, often through violence, and they are subject to their owner's will. Arguable, the most famous and inhumane example of this kind of slavery was found in America, during the Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth century. During this time, America's southern states were dominated by slavery, and the vast majority of plantations were essentially run by black slaves, imported from Africa. Firstly, the institution of slavery is as old as civilization. It has existed in