What is segregation and what plessy v. Ferguson stated?

Segregation refers to the enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups in various aspects of life, including education, housing, and public facilities. The landmark Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, asserting that segregated facilities for blacks and whites were permissible as long as they were equal in quality. This ruling legitimized discriminatory practices and reinforced systemic racism in the United States until it was overturned by later decisions, most notably Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.