Final answer:
The 'separate but equal' principle from Plessy v. Ferguson led to racial segregation in public facilities and was a legal doctrine that was not overturned until the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954.
Step-by-step explanation:
The separate but equal principle established by the decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 led to racial segregation in public facilities. This landmark decision essentially legalized segregation under the guise of providing equal, but separate facilities for Black and White citizens. Extensive segregation was applied to schools, public transportation, restrooms, restaurants, and other public spaces.
The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling was not overturned until the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which found that 'separate but equal' facilities, specifically public schools, were inherently unequal. This groundbreaking decision paved the way for the desegregation of schools and marked the beginning of a new era in the fight for civil rights in the United States.