Plessy v. Ferguson

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I will be directly focusing on how social norms, traditions, and stereotypes all play an enormous part in society. Throughout the case, I will dive deeper into how violating norms, traditions, and stereotypical ideas and actions is highly ignorant. Norms are meant to keep order in society and a “black man” has violated this. Homer Plessy broke tradition and stereotypical concepts that caused chaos and led to his being detained. 

Hello, I am John H. Ferguson and today I will be representing the state of Louisiana. New Orleans, Louisiana had very clear, specific, and justified laws. Louisiana recently acquired a law in 1890 that forced all railroad companies to construct racially separated rail carts. Two years later Homer Plessy, a ⅞  Caucasian and ⅛ Black man violated this law. Plessy is being prosecuted for refusing to leave a white rail cart that was specifically constructed only for whites.

Homer Plessy violated not only the law but social norms. Social norms are unwritten rules of behavior shared by people of a group or society. Plessy acted against these social norms, his actions were unacceptable by society and perceived as non-informal. Plessy purposely went and sat in a white railroad cart knowing he would most likely be apprehended for his actions. There was a social order in society, and he violated them.

Although both blacks and white are seen as “equals”, there are still unwritten laws that must be followed. These designated separate carts were made for a reason, to keep peace and to satisfy both whites' and blacks' needs. It is customary for African Americans to keep to their side, their cart, and their “equal” facilities. Louisiana had this law constructed two years ago to allow for equal boundaries between both races. This law reinforced both the 13th and 14th amendments, not violating them. Plessy's actions were reckless and intentional, he knew what the outcome would lead to and put himself into his current position.

This tradition of separate railcars has been around for nearly two years and we have had no major previous issue until Plessy purposely decided to act recklessly and test the limits of this law. He not only tested the law but tested how far he could stretch social norms for African Americans which ended him in jail. Homer Plessy has destroyed the image of African Americans and violated their social norms. The traditions in society have become out of line, therefore why these laws must be constructed and reinforced. In society, African Americans are guided by many different groups and social behaviors.

Plessy's social behavior is out of pocket. His actions will lead to other outbreaks disregarding how society should be run. If we do not deal with his actions now and he does not learn the consequences of breaking the law then this will continue to happen. Without social norms, and people following social norms there will be no order in society, there will be chaos. These traditions keep not only African Americans in check but also all people.

The Louisiana Separate Car Act of 1890 was made to promote the comfort of all passengers, not just Homer Plessy. This state law was made to accommodate both white and colored races for rail lines running in this state. The law is made to support society and social norms for the better. 

On May 18th, 1896 the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled against Homer Plessy. The court issues a 7-to-1 decision against Plessy's case. The court concluded and supported the Louisiana train car segregation laws. The court believed they needed to support in Lousiana “equal but separate accommodation for the white and colored races”. Nearly a century later Plessy's verse Ferguson case would be overturned. This major case was overturned because of Brown v. The Board of Education. This case has had a major impact on society and has completely changed norms, traditions, and stereotypical concepts among African Americans.