What was the impact of the Plessy versus Ferguson case on the civil rights movement?

The Plessy v. Ferguson case, decided in 1896, upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing discriminatory laws across the United States. This ruling entrenched systemic racism and segregation, particularly in the South, and galvanized civil rights activists to challenge these unjust laws. The case became a focal point for the Civil Rights Movement, ultimately leading to significant legal battles, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which overturned Plessy and declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. As a result, Plessy v. Ferguson served as both a catalyst for civil rights activism and a symbol of the struggle against institutionalized racism.