Plessy v. Ferguson · US History

Which of the following was a long-term psychological argument used against the Plessy precedent in later years?

  1. Segregation improved the self-esteem of all students
  2. Segregation was significantly more expensive than integration
  3. Segregation created a feeling of inferiority in children
  4. Segregation prevented the spread of contagious diseases in schools
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Correct answer: Segregation created a feeling of inferiority in children

The 'inferiority' argument was central to the NAACP's strategy in Brown v. Board of Education. They used psychological studies (like the doll test) to prove that the 'separate but equal' doctrine of Plessy was inherently damaging to Black children.

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