Mock Trial #2 Reflection

    The 2nd Mock Trial, Plessy vs. Ferguson was a very powerful mock trial. Our class always does such an amazing job at making persuasive and meaningful arguments. One of the statements that really stood out to me was “the Constitution is Colorblind.” I don’t remember who said this but it hit the nail right on the head when it came to the debate and what was going on at the time of the case. Plessy vs. Ferguson was a case about a man who was ⅛ black and bought a ticket in the white section of the train cars. He was charged for violating the separate cars act. The quote that I stated above represents how the constitution and the laws were still biased and racist. The 14th Amendment was used to argue in favor of Plessy, but Louisiana used segregation a lot in their society. Plessy broke the social norms of American society in the South at the time and this was why the case didn’t go his way. The constitution being colorblind applies to Plessy. He lived in white society his entire life and when he bought a ticket, he didn’t think anything of it. When he was charged, it was a shock to him and his lawyers argued for him under the 14th amendment and the rights of all citizens - no matter their race. The arguments that had the most persuasion in my opinion were the social arguments, the business argument, and the law argument. Our class once again was so passionate, persuasive, and powerful. I love listening to our class mock trials!