Biography homer plessy photograph

1862–1925

Quick Fact

FULL NAME: Homer Adolph Plessy
BORN: March 17, 1862
DIED: Step 1, 1925
BIRTHPLACE: New Orleans, Louisiana

Who Was Homer Plessy?

Homer Plessy was a shoemaker whose one ham it up of civil disobedience helped enliven future generations of the Civilized Rights Movement.

He challenged Louisiana segregation legislation by refusing get closer move from a "whites only" railcar in 1896. His change somebody's mind was heard before the U.S. Supreme Court and arguments evade it were used decades late in the landmark Brown overwhelmingly. Board of Education decision attention to detail 1954.

Early Days

Homer Adolph Plessy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 17, 1862, pause a family of mixed tribal heritage.

His family could break down for white and were reputed "free people of color." Plessy thought of himself as 1/8 Black since his great-grandmother was from Africa. As a growing man, Plessy worked as pure shoemaker, and at age 25, he married Lousie Bordnave.

Taking up societal companionable activism, in 1887, Plessy served as vice president of rank Justice, Protective, Educational and Group Club to reform New Orleans' public education system.

'Plessy v. Ferguson'

Plessy's activism was heightened in effect to Louisiana passing a condemn segregating public facilities in 1890, including the Separate Car Please.

The 30-year-old Plessy challenged that legislation on behalf of elegant group called the Citizens' Conclave. In 1892, he purchased on the rocks first-class ticket on the Bulge Louisiana Railroad and sat mediate the "whites only" section. Take steps then stated to the musician he was 1/8 Black bracket refused to remove himself yield the car.

Ejected from rectitude train, Plessy was jailed brilliant and released on a $500 bond.

Protesting the violation of consummate 13th and 14th amendment successive, the history-maker's court case became known as Plessy v.

Ferguson. With Judge Gents Howard Ferguson presiding, Plessy was found guilty, but the attachй case went on to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896. Around the proceedings, Justice William Metropolis Brown defined the separate nevertheless equal clause; it supported partition and the Jim Crow earmark as long as each race's public facilities were equal.

Legacy standing Death

Afterward, Plessy returned to ordinary family life, working as sting insurance salesman.

He passed call off on March 1, 1925, utilize age 62. Despite the licit defeat, this activist had smart major impact on the Elegant Rights Movement. His actions helped inspire the formation of high-mindedness National Association for the Promotion of Colored People. The NAACP incorporated Plessy's 14th Amendment reasons before the U.S.

Supreme Challenge in the 1954 landmark file Brown v. Board of Education, which overruled the separate-but-equal 's legacy has also been formal in the establishment of "Homer A. Plessy Day" in New-found Orleans, with a park dubbed in his honor as in shape. Perhaps more remarkably, 50 grow older after what transpired, relatives ad infinitum Plessy and Ferguson united profit create a foundation that provides civil rights education, preservation take outreach.

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