Public segregation

Date and country of first publication

1986
United States

Definition

Public segregation refers to the practice of segregating people based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or other factors in public spaces, such as schools, parks, restaurants, buses, and other public institutions. This form of segregation was prominent in the United States until the mid-20th century when laws were enacted to desegregate public facilities and promote racial equality.

During the era of public segregation, African Americans and other minority groups were often forced to use separate facilities, which were usually inferior to those provided for white individuals. This practice was justified through the "separate but equal" doctrine, which claimed that separate facilities for different racial groups were constitutionally valid as long as they were equal in quality. However, in reality, segregated facilities were almost always unequal and discriminatory.

One of the most significant legal cases that challenged public segregation was Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and violated the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. This landmark decision marked a turning point in the civil rights movement and set the stage for further desegregation efforts across the country.

Today, public segregation is illegal and considered a violation of civil rights in many countries. However, discrimination and racial tensions still persist in some cases, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and social justice. Efforts to promote inclusivity and eliminate segregation continue through legislation, education, and social activism.

Notes

At its current state, this definition has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM) so far without review by an independent researcher or a member of the curating team of segregation experts that keep the Segregation Wiki online. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its reliability, completeness and timeliness. Please use this content with caution and verify information as needed. Also, feel free to improve on the definition as you see fit, including the use of references and other informational resources. We value your input in enhancing the quality and accuracy of the definitions of segregation forms collectively offered in the Segregation Wiki ©.

Public segregation appears in the following literature

Roback J. (1986). The Political Economy of Segregation: The Case of Segregated Streetcars. The Journal of Economic History, 46(4), 893-917. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022050700050634

Zarnow L. (2008). Braving Jim Crow to Save Willie McGee: Bella Abzug, the legal left, and civil rights innovation, 1948 1951. Law and Social Inquiry, 33(4), 1003-1041. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-4469.2008.00130.x

Dhillon G., Chowdhuri R. (2013). Individual values for protecting identity in social networks. International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2013): Reshaping Society Through Information Systems Design, 3(), 2177-2192. https://doi.org/

Hidayah N. (2019). Islamic Law and Women’s Rights in Indonesia: A Case of Regional Sharia Legislation. Ahkam: Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, 19(1), 19-38. Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta.https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v19i1.11717