Separate: The Story of Plessy V. Ferguson, and America's Journey from Slavery to Segregation

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A myth-shattering narrative reveals how a nation embraced "separation" and its damaging consequences. The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, known for the "separate but equal" doctrine, generated little reaction when the justices announced their near-unanimous decision on May 18, 1896. Yet, it remains one of the most compelling stories of the nineteenth century, endorsing segregation and leaving lasting effects into the twenty-first century. This account traverses a wide array of characters and settings, all connected by the central issues of race and equality. It begins at the onset of the railroad age in the North, where the first separate railroad car emerged, and quickly progresses through slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, illustrating how separation permeated American life. Award-winning author Steve Luxenberg utilizes letters, diaries, and archival collections to narrate the story of Plessy v. Ferguson from the perspectives of those involved. The narrative features significant figures such as Louis Martinet, a mixed-race community leader; Albion Tourgée, Plessy's lawyer and a prominent civil rights advocate; Justice Henry Billings Brown, whose ruling supported separation; and Justice John Harlan, whose dissent established him as a champion of justice. This sweeping, fast-paced, and richly detailed exploration offers a fresh perspective on America's most profound divide.