What landmark case determined that separate facilities for races were permissible?

The landmark case that determined separate facilities for races were permissible is Plessy v. Ferguson. In this 1896 Supreme Court decision, the Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. This ruling provided legal justification for the segregation laws that were prevalent in the South and allowed states to maintain racially separate facilities for public services and accommodations, as long as those facilities were purportedly equal in quality.

The decision effectively entrenched racial inequality in American society for decades, leading to the systematic disenfranchisement and marginalization of African Americans. It wasn't until Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that the Supreme Court overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine, declaring that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, thus spurring the civil rights movement. Understanding Plessy v. Ferguson is crucial for grasping the history of race relations and legal segregation in the United States.