What was the Plessy v. Ferguson case and what effect did it have on race policies in the South?

The Plessy v. Ferguson case, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896, upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of "separate but equal." This ruling established a legal foundation for Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation in the South and promoted systemic discrimination against African Americans. As a result, segregation became entrenched in public facilities, education, and transportation, leading to widespread inequality that persisted for decades until the Civil Rights Movement. The case significantly influenced race policies, legitimizing segregation and discrimination across various aspects of life in the Southern states.