The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. This landmark decision declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 that upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Brown case, initiated by Oliver Brown and other plaintiffs, focused on the detrimental effects of segregation on African American children, citing psychological evidence of harm. The ruling significantly impacted the Civil Rights Movement, energizing efforts to dismantle segregation and advocating for equality. It marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights in America, leading to further legal and social changes.