Plessy v. Ferguson Arguments

In the case, Plessy v. Ferguson, Homer Plessy, a man considered to be 1/8 African American and 7/8 Caucasian, has lived apart of white society all his life because his light skin allowed him to pass off as being fully white. Realizing that he was always considered to be white in society Homer Plessy bought a first class ticket on a train, specifically reserved for white passengers, and was dragged off when he refused to sit in the black only train car and fined $25.

The statute in Louisiana holds that train companies must have separate accommodations for black and white passengers. John H. Ferguson, representing the state, argued Homer Plessy made a conscious effort to disobey the law and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law based on the Clean Hands Doctrine, because he was aware of the previous statute and law. He also made aware that the 14th Amendment doesn't apply to social rights, only civil and political rights and that the definition of a black man is anyone with one drop of African American blood is considered to be colored.

Homer Plessy and his defense team argued that his punishment violated his 14th Amendment rights, based on the equal protection clause, that states that no state shall enforce any law that takes away rights or freedoms from any person. His defense team also made clear that a man who has a droplet of water on him can't be considered to be drenched and in ordered to be considered black the percentage must be over 50%.

The state's ruling won and Plessy would still have to pay a fine and set a precedent for times to come because even though the state argued that they were equal because they had their own section, African Americans had poor quality sections and it established that the white society was okay with continuing to demean minority races in order to remain superior.