Does racial segregation in public schools mandated by state law violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause?

Four separate class action lawsuits from Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware were consolidated into this case. The plaintiffs were African American children seeking admission to public schools that were segregated by race. These students had been denied entry to schools attended by white children due to laws that either required or allowed racial segregation. The plaintiffs contended that segregated public schools were inherently unequal and violated their Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law.

In some instances, lower courts had found that schools for African American students were inferior to those for white students in tangible aspects such as buildings, curricula, teacher qualifications, and salaries. While some courts had mandated improvements to these tangible factors, they still maintained the practice of segregation. The case challenged the constitutionality of "separate but equal" educational facilities based on race.

The plaintiffs initially filed separate lawsuits in various state and federal district courts. These lower courts generally ruled against the plaintiffs, upholding the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The Delaware case diverged from this pattern, with the state Supreme Court ordering the admission of plaintiffs to white schools due to their superior quality.

The U.S. Supreme Court consolidated these cases and heard initial arguments in 1952. The Court then took the unusual step of requesting rearguments in 1953, specifically focusing on the historical context surrounding the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment. This procedural move indicated the Court's recognition of the cases' constitutional significance and its intention to thoroughly examine the legal foundations of segregation.

(Warren, C.J.)

Yes. Racial segregation in public schools mandated by state law violates the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, even if physical facilities and other tangible factors may be equivalent. Modern psychological knowledge and sociological studies demonstrate the detrimental effect of segregation on African American children, including feelings of inferiority that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. Education holds paramount importance in modern society, and where a state has undertaken to provide it, the opportunity must be made available to all on equal terms. Arguments based on the original intent of the Fourteenth Amendment's framers are rejected, as public education in 1868 does not compare with its present status. The evaluation of public education must consider its full development and present place in American life. The 'separate but equal' doctrine established in prior case law is overturned as it applies to public education. State-mandated segregation in public schools creates inherent inequality and violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law. This decision recognizes the fundamental role of education in preparing children for future citizenship and professional success, and affirms that segregation impedes this crucial function. The psychological and social harms inflicted by segregation undermine the very purpose of public education and cannot be reconciled with constitutional principles of equality.