In 1896, a black man named Homer Plessy sat in a train car for whites only. He did this intentionally to challenge segregation. His case, Plessy v. Ferguson, made it to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that segregation was, in fact, constitutional. The ruling held that segregation was legal as long as there were separate but equal options for black and white people. This set a precedent that would remain in place for almost 60 years. In reality, the options for black people were usually of much lower quality, and in 1954 the concept of “separate but equal” was completely overturned. The following year, in 1955, a black woman named Rosa Parks made history in Alabama when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. Based on the passage, how would you best explain Homer Plessy's reasoning for sitting in a white train car? *
14 points
A. to challenge the legality of segregation
B. to follow in Rosa Parks’ footsteps
C. to prove that separate was equal
D. to try to pass as a white man