How did Plessy v. Ferguson affect the rights of African Americans?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, effectively legitimizing state-sponsored discrimination against African Americans. This ruling reinforced Jim Crow laws, leading to widespread segregation in public facilities, schools, and transportation, which severely restricted the rights and opportunities of African Americans. The decision institutionalized systemic racism and inequality, hindering civil rights progress for decades until it was eventually overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.