Which term describes the policy of separating people by race in public life?

• A. Segregation
• B. Integration
• C. Discrimination
• D. Desegregation

Answer: (A)

Segregation is the policy or practice of keeping people apart on the basis of race in public spaces and institutions—so you’d see separate schools, buses, water fountains, seating areas, and other facilities for different racial groups. It reflects formal or informal rules that enforce separation in everyday life. This stands in contrast to integration, which is about bringing people of different races together in the same spaces, and desegregation, which refers to ending those laws or practices that required separation. Discrimination describes unfair or unequal treatment based on race, which can occur even without official separation, while segregation specifically names the act of separating people in public life.