Mock Trial: Plessy v Ferguson

During my First Year Seminar Class, my professor held a remake of the famous court case known as Plessy v. Ferguson of 1896. The case consisted of petitioner Homer Plessy and respondent John Ferguson. The case was made after Plessy was sitting in a "white only" vehicle just a couple years after the Seperate Car Act, and was then arrested after refusing to do so. Just like the actual court case, our professor split students into groups and had them role play as people arguing for either Plessy or Ferguson.

Arguing for Plessy: The definition for equality is not close to what is being practiced during Plessy's arrest. In the constitution everyone was under life liberty and pursuit of happiness. All men are created equal like how Thomas Jefferson said in the declaration, and like they say in the Bible. No founding documents say one race is superior. This is a violation to the 14th amendment which guarantees equal rights among all races.

After hearing what students had to say for Plessy I was quite impressed, their tone of voice and use of information made everything seem realistic.

Arguing for Ferguson: Homer simply sat in the white car, with knowledge that it was illegal so he was in the wrong. The Bible proves that Plessy was wrong, saying that their was difference in the races and that this law moves on with the Bible’s teachings. This is mot a 14th amendment violation because the different train cars were equal; combining the two will cause problems later down the line. Socially they aren’t equal so keeping them separated can help keep social peace as long as they get the same rights and are separated it can keep good moral standing.

While of course these arguments seem racist and unfair, the students did an amazing job to pretend to be someone they're not and make their case seem realistic and strong.

Both teams, overall, did an outstanding job using sources such as the law, bible, and so on, in order to deliver a strong argument. Finally, just like the original court case in 1896, Plessy won the case.