Legal Definitions - desegregation

Definition: Desegregation is the act of ending policies that separate people of different races into different institutions and facilities, such as public schools. It is the state of having these policies abolished.

Example: In the 1950s and 1960s, many schools in the United States were segregated, meaning that students of different races were not allowed to attend the same schools. This led to unequal education opportunities for students of color. The Civil Rights Movement fought for desegregation, and in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision paved the way for desegregation efforts across the country.

Explanation: The example illustrates how desegregation involves ending policies that separate people of different races into different institutions, in this case, public schools. The Brown v. Board of Education case is a landmark example of desegregation efforts, as it led to the end of segregation in public schools and the beginning of integration, where students of all races attend the same schools.