The landmark event in 1954 when the Supreme Court ruled against racial segregation in schools was the case of Brown v. Board of Education. This unanimous decision declared that "separate but equal" educational facilities were inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment. The ruling acted as a catalyst for the wider civil rights movement, challenging systemic racism and paving the way for further reforms. By asserting that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, it set a legal precedent that facilitated the desegregation of various aspects of American society, significantly advancing civil rights for African Americans.