Segregation was a system of discrimination and separation based on race that was enforced in the United States for much of its history, particularly from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. This system enforced the separation of African Americans from white Americans in all aspects of public life, including schools, transportation, restaurants, stores, housing, and more.

Segregation was upheld by Jim Crow laws, which were state and local laws that mandated racial segregation in public facilities. These laws were based on the idea of "separate but equal," a legal doctrine that allowed for segregation as long as facilities for African Americans were supposedly equal to those for white Americans. However, in reality, African Americans were often provided with substandard and inferior facilities and services.

Segregation had a devastating impact on the African American community, leading to widespread discrimination, inequality, and limited opportunities for education, employment, and economic advancement. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., worked to dismantle segregation and secure equal rights for all Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were key legislative victories that helped to put an end to legal segregation and pave the way for greater equality and social justice in the United States.