Read the quotation from the majority of judges in the Plessy v. Ferguson court case, and the opinion of the one dissent, or disagreement. Then answer the question.

Opinion of the majority of judges:

The argument also assumes that social prejudices may be overcome by legislation, and that equal rights cannot be secured to the negro except by an enforced commingling of the two races. We cannot accept this proposition. If the two races are to meet upon terms of social equality, it must be the result of natural affinities, a mutual appreciation of each other's merits, and a voluntary consent of individuals.

—Alex. Porter Morse


Opinion of the one dissent:

It was said in argument that the statute of Louisiana does not discriminate against either race but prescribes a rule applicable alike to white and colored citizens. But this argument does not meet the difficulty. Everyone knows that the statues in question had its origin in the purpose, not so much to exclude white persons from railroad cars occupied by blacks, as to exclude colored people from coaches occupied by or assigned to white persons.

—Justice John Marshall Harlan

Select whether each statement describes the viewpoint of the majority or the dissent.

The laws are not written to overcome social prejudice, and do not need to change because that was never their original intent.

The segregation laws were set up to exclude black people from riding in cars designated for white people, not the other way around.

For two races to feel equal they must willingly appreciate each other’s value.