Homer Plessy was an African American man known for his role in the landmark Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, in 1896. He was born on March 17, 1862, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Plessy challenged Louisiana's segregation laws by refusing to leave a whites-only railroad car, which led to his arrest and a legal battle over civil rights. The case ultimately upheld the doctrine of "separate but equal," allowing racial segregation to continue in the United States for decades. Plessy's actions became a significant moment in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the struggle against racial discrimination.