Separate but equal segregation for whites and non-whites in the United States is not a myth, but a real legal practice that existed for decades, especially in the South. It was part of a system known as \"Jim Crow\" laws, which affected not only buses but also trains, train stations, and other public places. Legal Basis: Separate but Equal The system was based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1896 in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. The Court ruled that racial segregation did not violate the Constitution if the conditions for whites and non-whites were considered separate but equal. In practice, equality almost always meant that the facilities for non-whites were worse, dirtier, and less convenient. For example, in Montgomery buses, the first ten seats were reserved for whites, even if they were empty, and black passengers were required to give up their seats. Buses and Freedom Rides The situation began to change due to resistance. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus, which led to a 381-day bus boycott and a subsequent Supreme Court decision declaring segregation on public transportation unconstitutional. However, segregation on inter-state routes persisted. In 1960, the court in the case of Boydton v. Virginia ruled segregation on bus and train stations serving inter-state transportation illegal. In response, civil rights activists organized Freedom Rides. In 1961, mixed groups of white and black passengers boarded buses to test the enforcement of this decision. They faced violent attacks: in Anniston, Alabama, a bus was burned, and passengers were beaten by mobs. These rides attracted national attention and forced federal authorities to intervene. As a result, in 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued an order prohibiting segregation at all inter-state bus stations and in buses. Summary Table Event Year Significance ... Read more