Wilders Pierre
English 10 Honors
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Homer Plessy, was a shoemaker born in New Orleans, Louisiana
on March 17, 1862.
His family was mixed heritage, He was a Creole of Color, a term
used to refer to black persons in New Orleans who traced some of
their ancestors to the French, Spanish, and Caribbean settlers of
Louisiana before it became part of the United States.
"Plessy V. Ferguson." pbs. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy.html>.
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Even though he had a black heritage he could have easily passed
as white, he considered himself 1/8th black because his great
grandmother was of African descent. The state still saw him as
black.
“He challenged Louisiana segregation legislation by refusing to
move from a "whites only" railcar .his act of civil disobedience
helped inspire future generations of the Civil Rights Movement”.
"Homer Plessy." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <
http://www.biography.com/people/homer-plessy-21105789>.
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The state of Louisiana passed the separate car act and other laws
that segregated public facilities in 1890.
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He challenged this legislation on behalf of the citizens committee.
Plessy purchased a first class ticket on the East Louisiana rail road
and sat in the “ white only” section and stated that he was black.
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When he was asked he refuse to move himself from the section
and he was jailed and charged $500.He filed a law suit protesting
the violation of his 13th and 14th amendment rights.
"Homer Plessy." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.biography.com/people/homer-plessy-21105789>.
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He lost the case because the verdict was separate facilities for
black and whites where constitutional as long as they were equal.
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In the decades to come the separate but equal doctrine spread like
wild fire in restaurants, public bathrooms, movie theaters and etc.
"Plessy V. Ferguson." pbs. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy.html>.

Plessy had major impact on modern day society, things would
have been way different if it was not for him.
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“His actions helped inspire the formation of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP
incorporated Plessy's 14th Amendment arguments before the U.S.
Supreme Court in the 1954 landmark case Brown v. Board of
Education, which overruled the separate-but-equal doctrine”.
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Plessy's legacy has also been recognized in the establishment of
"Homer A. Plessy Day" in New Orleans, with a park named in his
honor as well.
"Homer Plessy." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.biography.com/people/homer-plessy-21105789>.

The most interesting thing about my piece of research was
learning about it myself and it showed me how one man/person
can really make a difference if they have the courage to stand up
against injustice.
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Due to this research I was able to further understand how unfair,
bias, and racist these laws actually were. The government
wanted us to believe that the segregation remained “separate
but equal” where in reality it was separate but whites always had
the better half. Black schools were old, and rundown compare to
white schools.
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I decided to give a brief synopsis of Homer Plessy, then moved on
to the Plessy V. Ferguson case, and lastly top it all off with what I
believe was the legacy he had left behind.

"Homer Plessy." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <
http://www.biography.com/people/homer-plessy21105789>.

"Plessy V. Ferguson." pbs. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_plessy
.html>.