Final answer:
The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 declared that "separate but equal" in public education is inherently unequal, thereby overturning Plessy v. Ferguson and ending legal segregation in schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education
The court ruling that determined that "separate but equal" is a contradiction in terms was the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision in 1954. This ruling made it clear that the existence of racially segregated public schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned the principle established by Plessy v. Ferguson, holding that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”
The case was brought by Black students who were denied admittance to certain public schools based on race. The decision recognized that segregated schools perpetuated harm by legally enshrining the idea that African Americans were inherently inferior. Chief Justice Earl Warren stated in his majority opinion that "separate is inherently unequal." Thus, the ruling effectively removed the legal basis for segregated schools across the nation.
In conclusion, the Brown v. Board decision was a critical turning point in the fight against racial segregation in the United States, particularly within the educational system. It laid the groundwork for further civil rights advancements and highlighted the importance of equality in education.