John Howard Ferguson facts for kids
John Howard Ferguson was an American lawyer and judge from Louisiana. He is best known for being the judge in a very important court case called Plessy v. Ferguson. This case helped shape the history of civil rights in the United States.
About John Howard Ferguson
John Howard Ferguson was born on June 10, 1838, in Chilmark, Massachusetts. His family had a long history of being sailors. But John chose a different path. He taught school when he was young. Later, he decided to study law.
After finishing his law studies in Boston, Ferguson moved to New Orleans in 1865. There, he met and married Virginia Butler Earhart in 1866. Her father was a strong supporter of ending slavery. The Fergusons had three sons. Their home in New Orleans is now a historical landmark.
Ferguson worked as a lawyer and served in the Louisiana government. In 1892, he became a judge in New Orleans. As a judge, he oversaw the case of Homer Adolph Plessy v. The State of Louisiana. This case eventually led to the famous Plessy v. Ferguson decision by the Supreme Court of the United States.
The Plessy v. Ferguson Case
Before the Plessy case, Judge Ferguson had ruled on a similar law. This law was called the Louisiana Railway Car Act of 1890. It said that train companies in Louisiana had to provide "separate but equal" places for white and non-white passengers. Judge Ferguson had said this law was unconstitutional for trains that traveled through many states.
However, in Homer Plessy's case, Judge Ferguson decided differently. He ruled that the state could make rules for trains that only traveled within Louisiana. He said the Separate Car Act was constitutional for these in-state trips.
Homer Plessy then took his case to the Louisiana Supreme Court. They agreed with Judge Ferguson's decision. Plessy then asked the Supreme Court of the United States to review the case. Judge John Howard Ferguson's name was part of the case because he was the judge who made the original ruling.
Judge John Howard Ferguson passed away in New Orleans on November 12, 1915, at age 77. He is buried with his family in Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans.
Plessy and Ferguson Foundation
In 2009, some of the family members of Judge Ferguson and Homer Plessy came together. They formed the Plessy & Ferguson Foundation of New Orleans. This foundation honors the important achievements of the Civil Rights Movement.
On February 12, 2009, the foundation helped place a historical marker. This marker is in New Orleans where Homer Plessy was arrested in 1892. This event was part of an organized effort by a group called the Citizens Committee. They wanted to challenge Louisiana's Separate Car Act.
The Plessy and Ferguson Foundation works to teach people about civil rights history. They use films, art, and public programs. These programs help people understand this important court case and its lasting impact on America.
Even though the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against Plessy in 1896, their arguments were very important. Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote a famous "Great Dissent" in the case. The way the Citizens Committee used civil disobedience and the court system showed what future civil rights struggles would be like in the 20th century.
de:Separate but equal fr:Ségrégation raciale aux États-Unis ru:Расовая сегрегация в США sv:Separate but equal
