Final answer:
In the Brown v. Board of Education case, the Supreme Court decided that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,' overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine so the correct answer is option (c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education was that segregated education is inherently unequal. This 1954 landmark decision unanimously overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling of 'separate but equal' as it pertained to public education. Chief Justice Earl Warren stated that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal' and ruled that racial segregation in public education violated the U.S. Constitution.
The case highlighted the negative psychological effects of segregation on African American students and effectively dismantled the legal support for segregated schools across the nation. This ruling marked a significant victory in the civil rights movement, as it mandated the desegregation of schools and considered the sociological impact of segregation on students. It also emphasized the need for integration as a means to provide equal educational opportunities to all students, regardless of race.