What landmark Supreme Court case ruled that "separate but equal" education for black and white students was unconstitutional?

• A. Miranda v. Arizona
• B. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
• C. Plessy v. Ferguson
• D. McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer: (B)

The case that ruled "separate but equal" education for black and white students was unconstitutional is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Decided in 1954, this landmark Supreme Court case directly challenged the legality of racial segregation in public schools. The Court concluded that segregation in education created a sense of inferiority among African American children that was detrimental to their educational and personal development. This ruling effectively overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which allowed for "separate but equal" facilities, establishing that the educational systems for black and white students were inherently unequal. Brown v. Board of Education marked a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the desegregation of public schools across the United States and laying the groundwork for future civil rights advancements.