What was a key feature of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education?

• A. It reaffirmed "separate but equal" doctrine
• B. It stated that separate schools are unconstitutional
• C. It required the closure of all public schools
• D. It allowed for volunteer segregation

Answer: (B)

The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education was pivotal in the fight against racial segregation in American public schools. The Court determined that separate educational facilities for racial minorities and whites were inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This landmark ruling signified a crucial turning point, as it clearly stated that separate schools are unconstitutional, rejecting the validity of the earlier "separate but equal" doctrine upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson. The Brown decision not only discredited the notion that segregation could be justified under the guise of equality but also laid the groundwork for further civil rights advancements by emphasizing that segregation in public education created a legacy of inequality that was damaging to students of color.