Leveled Readings / Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson
Justice Henry Billings Brown, majority opinion, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
These are adaptations, not the original. The original wording is always shown first. Each adapted version restates the same passage at about a grade 4, grade 7, or grade 10 reading level without adding or removing ideas. Quote the original in student writing.
Original wording
“The distinction between laws interfering with the political equality of the negro and those requiring the separation of the two races in schools, theaters, and railway carriages has been frequently drawn by this court.”
Adapted · about grade 4
The Court said keeping races apart in schools, theaters, and trains was different from taking away political rights.
Adapted · about grade 7
The Court said it had often separated laws that take away political equality from laws that require the races to be kept apart in schools, theaters, and train cars.
Adapted · about grade 10
The Court noted that it had frequently distinguished between laws that interfere with Black citizens' political equality and laws requiring racial separation in schools, theaters, and railway cars.
Used in: How did the law on segregated schools change, and why?