Plessy v. Ferguson

School Library Journal

Gr 8 UpWhen Homer Plessy, a light-skinned African-American shoemaker, refused to leave a "whites only" first-class railroad car in 1892, he began a series of legal proceedings that would affect the lives of African Americans for the next 60 years. Intricacies of his various cases before the Louisiana Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court are explained along with pertinent legal terms and concepts. While some of the legal arguments make for dry reading, details of the lives and political biases of some of the lawyers and judges provide human interest. Fireside offers a historical context for the events plus a social history of the Southern states to make the logic employed in the court decisions more evident. Reliance on primary and secondary sources enhances this volume's scholarly value. This is the most accessible and detailed treatment of this important milestone in the African-Americans' fight for civil and social equality currently available for young people. Chapter notes, a clearly explained glossary, an extensive list for further reading, and a good index all add to this title's usefulness for reports.Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY