What was the significance of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education?

The significance of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education lies in its declaration that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This landmark ruling, issued in 1954, fundamentally challenged the legal basis for segregation established by the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. By stating that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," the Court concluded that segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, as it provided a clear legal foundation for desegregation and inspired further efforts to challenge discriminatory practices across various aspects of public life. Furthermore, it played a crucial role in setting the stage for subsequent civil rights activism and legislation aimed at achieving racial equality.