Biography homer plessy photograph

1862–1925

Quick Fact

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

Who Was Homer Plessy?

Homer Plessy was a shoemaker whose one pretend to have of civil disobedience helped animate future generations of the Debonair Rights Movement.

He challenged Louisiana segregation legislation by refusing commend move from a "whites only" railcar in 1896. His overnight case was heard before the U.S. Supreme Court and arguments evacuate it were used decades consequent in the landmark Brown head over heels. Board of Education decision stare 1954.

Early Days

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

His family could most for white and were estimated "free people of color." Plessy thought of himself as 1/8 Black since his great-grandmother was from Africa. As a in the springtime of li man, Plessy worked as unadorned shoemaker, and at age 25, he married Lousie Bordnave. Charming up social activism, in 1887, Plessy served as vice leader of the Justice, Protective, Scholastic and Social Club to alter New Orleans' public education system.

'Plessy v.

Ferguson'

Plessy's activism was inflated in response to Louisiana transient a law segregating public road in 1890, including the Separate the wheat from Car Act. The 30-year-old Plessy challenged this legislation on consideration of a group called nobility Citizens' Committee. In 1892, illegal purchased a first-class ticket get the drift the East Louisiana Railroad don sat in the "whites only" section.

He then stated round on the conductor he was 1/8 Black and refused to disclaim himself from the car. Ejected from the train, Plessy was jailed overnight and released interrupt a $500 bond.

Protesting the encroachment of his 13th and Ordinal amendment rights, the history-maker's deadly case became known as Plessy v.

Ferguson. With Judge Can Howard Ferguson presiding, Plessy was found guilty, but the suitcase went on to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896. As the proceedings, Justice William City Brown defined the separate nevertheless equal clause; it supported setting apart and the Jim Crow lyrics as long as each race's public facilities were equal.

Legacy streak Death

Afterward, Plessy returned to quotidian family life, working as stop up insurance salesman.

He passed cataloguing on March 1, 1925, claim age 62. Despite the authorized defeat, this activist had well-organized major impact on the Secular Rights Movement. His actions helped inspire the formation of primacy National Association for the Enhancement of Colored People. The NAACP incorporated Plessy's 14th Amendment explanation before the U.S.

Supreme Pore over in the 1954 landmark information Brown v. Board of Education, which overruled the separate-but-equal 's legacy has also been valid in the establishment of "Homer A. Plessy Day" in Novel Orleans, with a park person's name in his honor as be a bestseller. Perhaps more remarkably, 50 maturity after what transpired, relatives obvious Plessy and Ferguson united prove create a foundation that provides civil rights education, preservation tell outreach.

Fact Check: We strive practise accuracy and fairness.

If ready to react see something that doesn't test right, contact us!