<P> The intellectual roots of Plessy v. Ferguson , the landmark United States Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation in 1896 under the doctrine of `` separate but equal '' were , in part , tied to the scientific racism of the era . However , the popular support for the decision was more likely a result of the racist beliefs held by many whites at the time . In deciding Brown v. Board of Education , the Supreme Court rejected the ideas of scientific racists about the need for segregation , especially in schools . The Court buttressed its holding by citing ( in footnote 11 ) social science research about the harms to black children caused by segregated schools . </P>
the supreme court 's landmark 1954 decision in brown vs. board of education struck down what doctrine
`` separate but equal ''