Question

read the excerpt and answer the question that follows.
we conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of \separate by equal\ has no place. separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs are deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment. -chief justice earl warren, brown v board of education, may 17, 1954
which previous supreme court decision had protected the practice described in this excerpt? (20a)
hernandez v. texas
sweatt v. painter
wisconsin v. yoder
plessy v. ferguson

Explanation:

The excerpt is from Brown v Board of Education, which ruled that "separate but equal" in education is unconstitutional. The previous decision that upheld "separate but equal" (protecting racial segregation in public facilities, including education) was Plessy v. Ferguson. Hernandez v. Texas dealt with Mexican - American rights, Sweatt v. Painter was about law school segregation (a precursor to Brown but not the one that established "separate but equal"), and Wisconsin v. Yoder was about religious education and Amish rights.

Answer:

D. Plessy v. Ferguson