Racial segregation in public transportation has a long and troubling history in Black history, particularly in the United States. The practice of segregating passengers based on race was commonly seen on buses, trains, streetcars, and other modes of public transportation in the 19th and 20th centuries.

One of the most well-known examples of segregation in public transportation was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which began in 1955 after Rosa Parks, a Black woman, refused to give up her seat to a White passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This sparked a widespread protest against segregated seating on city buses and ultimately led to the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery.

In addition to buses, streetcars were also a site of segregation, with Black passengers often forced to sit in the back or stand while White passengers occupied the front seats. The famous case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 upheld the constitutionality of "separate but equal" facilities, which justified segregation on public transportation and other public spaces.

Despite legal challenges and protests, it was not until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s that significant strides were made in desegregating public transportation. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation on buses, trains, and other public facilities, marking a significant victory in the fight for racial equality.

Overall, racial segregation in public transportation serves as a stark reminder of the systemic racism and discrimination faced by Black individuals in the United States and highlights the resilience and determination of those who fought to dismantle these unjust practices.