Racial segregation in public transportation has a long and ugly history in Black history. In the United States, segregation on public transportation was prevalent in the South, with many states enacting laws that required Black and white passengers to be segregated on trains, buses, and streetcars.

One of the most well-known examples of this segregation was the case of Rosa Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Her actions sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement which eventually led to the desegregation of public transportation in the city.

Segregation on public transportation was not limited to buses, as trains and streetcars also enforced strict segregation policies. Black passengers were often required to sit in the back of buses and trains, or to give up their seats to white passengers if the front of the vehicle was full. This treatment was a clear reflection of the systemic racism and oppression that permeated American society at the time.

The struggle to desegregate public transportation was a key part of the broader Civil Rights Movement, as activists fought to dismantle the racist laws and practices that enforced segregation. The landmark Supreme Court case of Browder v. Gayle in 1956 ruled segregation on buses unconstitutional, marking a significant victory in the fight for civil rights.

While much progress has been made since the days of legal segregation on public transportation, the fight for equality and justice continues today as we confront ongoing issues of discrimination and disparities in our society.