What was the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling?

• A. It ended the legal segregation in public schools
• B. It granted women the right to vote
• C. It established affirmative action policies
• D. It provided for equal pay for equal work

Answer: (A)

The ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, delivered by the Supreme Court in 1954, was a landmark decision that declared the segregation of public schools unconstitutional. This case specifically challenged the legality of racial segregation in public education, which had been upheld by the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

The significance of the Brown ruling lies in its assertion that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal and violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This judicial decision was pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement, as it set a legal precedent that would be used to challenge segregation across various aspects of public life in the United States.

By effectively ending legal segregation in public schools, the ruling was not just a victory for African American students but also a catalyst for further civil rights advancements, helping to inspire activism and push for greater equality in other institutions beyond education.