"Separate but equal" was the legal principle that upheld racial segregation in the United States. This doctrine allowed for the segregation of facilities, services, and opportunities based on race, under the belief that separate facilities could be equal. This concept was established in the 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the Court upheld racial segregation under the doctrine of "separate but equal."

However, in reality, the facilities and services provided for Black Americans were almost always inferior to those provided for white Americans. This segregation and discrimination permeated all aspects of society, including education, housing, transportation, and public accommodations.

The "separate but equal" doctrine was finally overturned in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision marked a crucial turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and set the stage for the dismantling of Jim Crow laws and the fight for equality and civil rights for Black Americans.