Racial segregation in public transportation was a pervasive and discriminatory practice in Black history in the United States. This system of segregation, often referred to as Jim Crow laws, enforced strict racial codes that mandated separate facilities and services for white and Black individuals.

One of the most well-known examples of racial segregation in public transportation was the enforcement of "separate but equal" policies on buses and trains. Black passengers were required to sit in designated areas at the back of the bus or in segregated train cars, while white passengers were given priority seating in the front. This enforced separation not only physically divided people but also reinforced the idea of white superiority and Black inferiority.

One of the turning points in the fight against segregation in public transportation was the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956. After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus, Black community leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., organized a boycott of the city's bus system. Lasting over a year, the boycott demonstrated the economic and social power of Black residents and ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregated buses unconstitutional.

The impact of racial segregation in public transportation extended beyond just the physical act of separating passengers. It symbolized the broader systemic racism and discrimination faced by Black individuals in all aspects of society. The fight against segregation in public transportation was a vital part of the larger Civil Rights Movement, which sought to dismantle institutionalized racism and achieve equality and justice for all.