The purpose that brought the fourteenth amendment into being was equality before the law, and equality, not separation, was written into the law.

In this quote, Robert Bork, an American judge and legal scholar, emphasizes the purpose behind the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He asserts that the primary intent of the amendment was to ensure equality before the law for all citizens, particularly in the context of the post-Civil War era. The amendment was designed to provide equal protection under the law, making it unconstitutional for states to deny any person the same legal rights or privileges enjoyed by others, regardless of race, class, or background.

Bork further points out that equality, rather than separation, was a fundamental principle embedded in the law. This challenges interpretations of the Fourteenth Amendment that might advocate for the continuation of segregation or unequal treatment under the guise of legal distinctions. By stating that equality was written into the law, Bork underscores the idea that the Fourteenth Amendment was meant to dismantle legal systems that treated people unequally, particularly in relation to race.

The reference to equality before the law directly relates to the broader civil rights movement and the struggle to eliminate discriminatory practices such as segregation and racial inequality. Bork is positioning the Fourteenth Amendment as a pivotal legal tool in the fight for civil rights, emphasizing that its true purpose was to advance justice by guaranteeing equal protection for all Americans.

Ultimately, Bork’s quote reflects his interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment as a constitutional guarantee of equality and fairness. He suggests that the law's intent was not to perpetuate division or separation but to create a more just and inclusive society where all people are treated equally under the law, a sentiment central to the civil rights principles that continue to shape U.S. law and society.