Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and the first African American justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Born in 1908, Marshall grew up in a segregated society and experienced racial discrimination throughout his life.
About
Born in 1908, Marshall grew up in a segregated society and experienced racial discrimination throughout his life. However, he was determined to fight for civil rights and equality. Marshall began his legal career as an attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and became known for his expertise in constitutional law. He successfully argued a number of landmark cases before the Supreme Court, most notably Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court, making him the first African American to serve on the nation's highest judicial body. As a justice, Marshall consistently advocated for civil rights and social justice, often dissenting against decisions he believed were discriminatory or unjust. Throughout his tenure on the Court, Marshall played a pivotal role in shaping important legal principles and expanding civil rights protections. He ardently defended the rights of African Americans, women, criminal defendants, and other historically marginalized groups. Marshall retired from the Supreme Court in 1991 and continued to advocate for equal rights until his death in 1993. His legacy as a champion for justice and equality is widely recognized, and his impact on American society cannot be overstated.