Which statement best describes the doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson?

• A. It banned segregation
• B. It allowed segregation as long as facilities were equal
• C. It required integration
• D. It banned slavery

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the “separate but equal” doctrine. Plessy v. Ferguson determined that racial segregation was permissible as long as the separate facilities for Black and white people were equal in quality. This framed segregation as lawful under the Equal Protection Clause, which is why the statement describing segregation as allowed if facilities were equal is the best description. It didn’t ban segregation, it didn’t require integration, and it isn’t about slavery. It stood for decades until Brown v. Board of Education overturned it by recognizing that separate facilities are inherently unequal.