Why did it take so long to overturn the Plessy v Ferguson decision?

The Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, was deeply entrenched in American law and society for decades. Efforts to overturn it faced significant opposition due to institutional racism, social norms, and political resistance. The Civil Rights Movement gained momentum in the 1950s, leading to increased legal challenges against segregation. Finally, the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 marked a pivotal moment, declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus overturning Plessy.