BRAIN GAMES
SOLUTION
Honoring Thurgood Marshall
In honor of Black History Month, I want to highlight one of my favorite Black American heroes, Thurgood Marshall. He was an incredible attorney who advocated for civil rights and worked to provide legal representation for Black Americans who had been systemically discriminated against. In 1967, he was appointed the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
In his time as a lawyer, he argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court, winning a total of 29 cases. It was his case, Brown v. Board of Education , that served as a landmark in our history and a cornerstone for the Civil Rights Movement
as it declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. He remains one of the most successful and renowned attorneys in U.S. history. His career progressed and he was eventually nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court on Aug. 30, 1967. He served in this position for 24 years.
Born in Baltimore to William and Norma, a railroad porter and a teacher respectively, Thurgood was raised with a deep appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. At a young age, his father would take him and his brother to watch court cases to learn how to debate and think critically. They would then practice these skills around the dinner table when discussing current events. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and quickly became a star on his debate team.
If you are interested in learning more about Thurgood Marshall and his legacy, I recommend visiting the NAACP’s website. Additionally, a
2017 movie about his early years as a lawyer, “Marshall,” starring Chadwick Boseman, brings to light much of his character and passion. I want to leave you with one of his most famous quotes: “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
He later went on to be the chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
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