Mark Smith

For example, Plessy v. Ferguson—

If you were to explain how that case actually worked just by relying on eyewitness accounts, you'd have no idea why that case was so important. If you don't pay attention to smell, you've really missed the foundation of modern segregation in the United States.

If you were to explain how that case actually worked just by relying on eyewitness accounts, you'd have no idea why that case was so important. If you don't pay attention to smell, you've really missed the foundation of modern segregation in the United States.

If you were to explain how that case actually worked just by relying on eyewitness accounts, you'd have no idea why that case was so important. If you don't pay attention to smell, you've really missed the foundation of modern segregation in the United States.

We're in New Orleans. This is in the aftermath of the Civil War. Slavery is being abolished.

We're in New Orleans. This is in the aftermath of the Civil War. Slavery is being abolished.

We're in New Orleans. This is in the aftermath of the Civil War. Slavery is being abolished.

But a new system of bodily control, social authority has been erected and that's called segregation.

But a new system of bodily control, social authority has been erected and that's called segregation.

But a new system of bodily control, social authority has been erected and that's called segregation.

And what you have is a group of whites who want to segregate railroad cars in New Orleans. One of the things about New Orleans is that it has a very high African-American population and a very, very robust elite African-American population that has been there for many, many years. And they want to push back against the segregations.

And what you have is a group of whites who want to segregate railroad cars in New Orleans. One of the things about New Orleans is that it has a very high African-American population and a very, very robust elite African-American population that has been there for many, many years. And they want to push back against the segregations.

And what you have is a group of whites who want to segregate railroad cars in New Orleans. One of the things about New Orleans is that it has a very high African-American population and a very, very robust elite African-American population that has been there for many, many years. And they want to push back against the segregations.

And they choose a man named Homer Plessy.

And they choose a man named Homer Plessy.

And they choose a man named Homer Plessy.

And they choose him because he is visually ambiguous. He is considered to be black under Louisiana's statute. But visually, he looks white.

And they choose him because he is visually ambiguous. He is considered to be black under Louisiana's statute. But visually, he looks white.

And they choose him because he is visually ambiguous. He is considered to be black under Louisiana's statute. But visually, he looks white.

Segregation is based on the assumption that race can be seen and always detected. In other words, that race can be fixed, that it is a stable category. And we know that race is an invention. It functions to fulfill the mandates and imperatives of people who have power at the time. So here they have Homer Plessy, and they say, we want you to go onto the white car.