Laura Lynn Lake

For Black History Month: Homer Plessey



Posted: Thursday, February 14, 2008

by

     Homer Plessey, a light skinned mulatto who was only 1/8 black, was born on March 17, 1863 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1890, under the Jim Crow Law, Louisiana passed the "Separate Car Law," which was supposed to bring comfort by creating "equal but separate" cars for blacks and whites. No public accommodations, including railway travel, provided blacks with equal facilities. The Louisiana law made it illegal for blacks to sit in seats reserved for whites, and whites could not sit in seats reserved for blacks.

     A group of black people decided to test the Jim Crow Law and use Homer as an example. In June 1892, Homer bought a train ticket for Covington, Louisiana and planned to sit with the whites. In those days, black people, even Homer, were supposed to sit only with people of their race. Because Homer had a little black in him, he was supposed to sit with the black people. Homer refused to be prejudiced against. Because Homer refused to obey the rules, he was arrested and put into the jail in New Orleans.

     Homer decided to fight his case with the help of other people and bring it to the Supreme Court. Homer’s suit wanted the courts to stop Judge Ferguson from carrying out his sentence that was a $25 fine or 20 days in jail. Unbelievable to everyone, Homer lost the case by a ruling of 8 to 1. The court agreed with the idea of being separate but equal and that segregation was legal as long as both blacks and whites had the same type of facilities. In 1954, the United States finally outlawed legal segregation in the case of Brown versus Board of Education.

     I think it is important that segregation was outlawed because God made all people and loves all people the same. What a terrible experience for this man and all men like him which is why I decided to write about his courage.

The End.

Laura Lynn Lake is the daughter of Judi and Gary Lake. She is presently in the forth grade and is 9 years old. Her hobbies include: reading, football, writing, singing, music, playing with her dog, roller-blading, ice-skating, gymnastics, riding her four wheeler, and trying to train her other dog Gloria. Her favorite TV show is "I Love Lucy," "The Munster," "The Adams Family" "The Flintstones" "The Jetsons" and she loves Hannah Montanna. 
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)
» left by James P Krehbiel
 3 years 361 days ago.
125 fans.
Laura Lynn, What a great job you did on this article and this concern! Like you, I am glad that we all can sit, pray and eat together no matter what our race happens to be. I remember when my son was about your age, he wrote an article about Dr. Martin Luther King that was published in a newspaper operated by African Americans. I was so proud of him and I'll bet your parents are proud of you. Take care and keep writing. You are good!
» left by Avis Ward
 3 years 360 days ago.
131 fans.
Laura, thank you for an educational article written about a man of courage. I agree when you said he had great courage. You're wonderful to pay tribute to Homer Plessey with this very good article.
» left by Ted Gragg
 3 years 358 days ago.
19 fans.
Laura, you are a very special girl who has obviously inherited much from your parents. Good job and agreed that your parents must be very proud of their little girl.
» left by Teresa Ortiz
 3 years 339 days ago.
187 fans.
Laura, Thank you for sharing this information. I do not remember learning about him. Thank you for teaching me something new and having a good heart to write about this. Also, you are a great writer! Right up there with of the best. (And I am not saying this just to be nice.) I really am impressed and I know this is a gift God has given you. Keep it up, and read your Bible, so that you can write about the wonderful things that God wants everybody to know about. Besides taking naps on the couch, my most favorite thing to do is read God's word. God bless you sweet Laura.
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