Plessy v. Ferguson Reaction Post

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In the recent mock trial held in class covering the Plessy v. Ferguson case, my peers argued their sides on whether it was constitutional for Mr. Plessy, who was 1/8th black, to sit on the first class car in the train. 

The facts of the case were first presented to the class where it was revealed to us that Homer Plessy was a man who lived a good majority of his life as white. He appeared to present as a white man because he was only 12.5% black. In this case, Mr. Plessy bought a first-class ticket on a train. He bought the ticket and boarded the train without any problems, but after it was revealed that he was black he was removed from the first-class car. 

My peers took their assigned position on this case and presented many different arguments. There were some arguments that stood out to me specifically. First, one of my peers argued that the state of Louisiana was trying to intemperate the constitution when that was the direct role of congress. I found that argument to be interesting because essentially that is what happened. The state of Louisiana interpreted the constitution when it was a matter within the state. 

Another argument I found strong was the argument made about the economical effects of the separate but equal clause. My classmate argued that because businesses were required to supply two separate facilities that were required to be equal to each other it would cause economic distress on businesses. I think that this is an interesting and different take on the results of the ruling of this case that strays away from the traditional moral argument of the case. Considering that it is proven that African Americans did not make as much money as white Americans did the establishment open to them would not economically thrive as well. This results in businesses taking a fiscal hit. Another related argument that I found compelling started like this: "Suppose I gave you a dollar and my white college also gave you a dollar" she went on to argue that you wouldn't take into consideration the race of the person who gave you a dollar you would just consider yourself two dollars richer. She then linked that analogy to black citizens and white citizens both purchasing the same thing. She argued that "business is business" and that Mr. Plessy was a paying customer therefore he should have been enabled to the same rights as any other customer specifically white customers because "business is business" 

Overall I found these arguments from the mock trial to be compelling and convincing. They opened my eyes to different perspectives of the case and ruling. 

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