Plessy v Ferguson

Background:

Homer Plessy was a man who had 1/8 African American blood in him and sat in a white-first class trolley car in Louisiana. Once Plessy confessed to the conductor of his official "skin color" he was taken off the train and arrested. Plessy then sued the state of Louisiana, over the fact that the separate but equal clause was in direct violation of his 14th amendment rights. Plessy lost in every court and appeal but then was brought forth to the Supreme Court. In hope to deem the "separate but equal" clause unconstitutional.

Defending Plessy using the Bible:

For the mock trial in class, I had to defend Homer Plessy from the aspect of the Bible. I had to deem the "separate but equal" clause unconstitutional using the holy book and how God would judge this act in hope to enlighten and morally correct the court. Using quotes from Genesis and examples from the New Testament I was able to create a stable argument on the equality of all men under god. I wanted to try to wrap the court's mind behind the idea of death and how God sees death. We are all born the same way and we eventually die the same way. We return to the earth's soil and that we all deserve to be judged under God on fair playing field. Since all men have a purpose and choices that will eventually lead them to be judged by a higher power, or if they don't believe in religion at all then you base your life on how you would like to be treated by others and towards yourself.

In the eyes of God, all men are created equal and the use of segregation will never have the outcome as fair treatment towards all races. Defining equality and separation from the dictionary was also a point I used. Equality all based on status, rights, and opportunities given before them. Blacks in this time will never raise to the same social statues as whites due to the lack of rights and opportunities that keeps them suppressed under the "separate but equal" clause. By taking away someones ability to succeed in life, by kicking them down before they can even get on their own 2 feet.

By arguing from the point of view of the Bible and how it views death, I was able to explain that the only thing that makes a man is how they treat others and how they are treated themselves. All men deserve the right to live how they want to so that their maker or themselves may judge their own lives.

Verdict:

In 1896 the final verdict of the Supreme Court was that Homer Plessy was breaking the law. Since a car was provided for him that he in the eyes of the law was equal. That the action of sitting in the white car was illegal and in no way were his rights being violated. Plessy was tried as guilty and lots the court case, however in our mock trial the verdict was different.