Final answer:
City leaders were able to bypass civil rights laws and continue segregation in public swimming pools through the legal system of Jim Crow, which required the separation of races. The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson established the principle of separate but equal, allowing for the continuation of segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
City leaders were able to bypass civil rights laws to continue segregation in public swimming pools through a legal system called Jim Crow. This system of legal segregation required the separation of races in all aspects of life, including public buildings, parks, and transportation. The United States Supreme Court, in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, established the principle of separate but equal, which allowed for the continuation of segregation. By providing separate facilities for African Americans that were deemed 'equal' by the courts, city leaders were able to maintain segregation in public swimming pools.