Thurgood Marshall's journey from a young student in segregated Baltimore to the first African American Supreme Court Justice is a testament to his enduring fight for racial justice. His legal strategies as an NAACP lawyer and his Supreme Court rulings significantly advanced civil rights and reshaped American society. Marshall's legacy as a champion of equality and justice remains influential.
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Thurgood Marshall was raised by parents who instilled in him the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law
High School and College
Marshall excelled in debate and became involved in civil rights activism during his time at Frederick Douglass High School and Lincoln University
Law School and Mentorship
After being rejected from the University of Maryland Law School, Marshall attended Howard University Law School and was mentored by civil rights attorney Charles Hamilton Houston
Marshall began his legal career in Baltimore and joined the NAACP, where he worked to overturn the "separate but equal" doctrine
Marshall's first significant courtroom success was the desegregation of the University of Maryland Law School in the case of Murray v. Pearson
Marshall's representation of the plaintiffs in this case led to the historic Supreme Court decision declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional
As the first African American Justice, Marshall consistently advocated for civil rights and individual freedoms during his tenure on the Supreme Court
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Birthplace and date of Thurgood Marshall
Born July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Thurgood Marshall's college education
Attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; involved in debate and civil rights.
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Reason for Howard University Law School attendance
Rejected by University of Maryland Law School due to segregationist policies.
