The case Brown v. Board of Education, originating from Topeka, Kansas with the story of Linda Brown, would ultimately be the first step towards desegregation in the United States. Before the Supreme Court's decision in this case, the concept of "separate but equal" facilities was upheld by the case Plessy v. Ferguson. The ruling of this cae allowed for the state-endorsed segregation of public schools. Linda Brown, an African American student, was supported by the NAACP as she challenged this segregation. From the outset, the case for the Plaintiff was strong: segregation in schools made black children feel inferior to white children and put them at a disadvantage later on in life. However, because of the precedent established by Plessy v. Ferguson, the hands of the state courts were tied and the case was not decided in favor of Brown. It was not until the case went to the Supreme Court that the decision of Plessy v. Ferguson was struck down and segregation in public schools was made unconstitutional. Unfortunately, because the Supreme Court's ruling did not determine a timeline for the desegregation of schools and racial stigmas persisted, it would be many years before desegregation was realized.
