The notorious court case that paved the way for civil rights advancements for African Americans was Brown v. Board of Education (1954). This landmark Supreme Court case struck down the doctrine of “separate but equal”, declaring that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The court ruled that segregation inherently created a sense of inferiority among African American children, violating their Equal Protection Clause rights under the 14th Amendment. Brown v. Board served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring activists to challenge segregation and discrimination in various aspects of American society.