Final answer:
The Plessy v. Ferguson decision shocks contemporary Americans because it upholds racial segregation and supports discrimination. It was not until the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 that segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Plessy v. Ferguson decision is shocking to contemporary Americans because it supported and upheld racial segregation, which is considered unconstitutional and a violation of civil rights. The decision allowed for the perpetuation of discrimination and reinforced the doctrine of "separate but equal," which gave constitutional protection to race-based discrimination. It wasn't until the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 that segregation in public schools was deemed unconstitutional and overturned the Plessy decision.