Thurgood Marshall During the 20th century I have read many books, newspaper articles and seen news broadcasts on two of the most famous Afro American Pioneers: Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall. Martin Luther King fought all his life for equal rights for Afro Americans, but Thurgood Marshall help elevate the Afro American civil rights struggles through legal precedents and timely court decisions. Thomas G. Kraftenmaker a professor of Constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center wrote, "When I think of great American lawyers I think of Thurgood Marshall, Abe Lincoln and Daniel Webster". In this century only Earl Warren approaches Marshall. Thurgood Marshall is certainly the most important lawyer of the 20th century. …show more content…
By 1934 Thurgood begins work for The NAACP. In 1935 Thurgood and his friend and mentor Charles Huston won their first civil rights case Murray v. Pearson. Today most Afro Americans don't realize how important a role Thurgood played in shaping the legal precedents for school segregation. Thurgood hated the ideal of our young and proud Afro Americans boys and girls having to travel outside their school districts just to attend colored schools, because their local elementary and high schools were not segregated. . Thurgood fought hard and vigorously to bring about a change in elementary and high school segregation. In 1954 Thurgood conquers a big milestone in winning his famous case Brown v. The Board of Education, of Topeka Kansas. The United States Supreme Court ruled that all elementary and high schools will be segregated. From 1940-1960s Thurgood's name became a main stayed within the Afro American Communities. Afro Americans from many cities would call upon Thurgood for his services. Thurgood would work for free, just to help and defend his people. Then in February 1955 Thurgood's wife Vivan became very ill from cancer, and she eventually died. Thurgood was so saddened that he remained single for two years. Thurgood then met and eventually married his second wife Cecilia Suyat. (Born as a Philippine). Cecilia was a secretary for The NAACP Office. Thurgood and Cecilia had two sons: Thomas Jr. and John. Thurgood's biggest
In Baltimore, Maryland, Thurgood Marshall was born into a family of slaves. He came into the world on the second of June, 1908 during a hot summer day. From the time he was a toddler, his father, William Marshall, rooted in him a deep appreciation for America’s Constitution and government. Although he attended racially segregated schools, he was extremely dedicated and was a high achieving student.
The late 1700s and early 1800s was a critical time period in American history in which our newly independent nation was beginning to lay down the groundwork for how the country would run. During this time, America was in its infancy and its crucial first steps would dictate how the nation would either walk, run, or retreat. John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Unites States, was a highly important and influential political figure whose decisions forever molded the future of the American judicial system. Like many other great political figures, much of John Marshall’s influence can be attributed to timing; he emerged just as the United States Constitution came into existence.
Thurgood Marshall was a great African American Civil Rights activist who changed a lot of lives in the United States. As a passionate lawyer and prominent Supreme Court justice he fought for Civil Rights and social justice in the courts and believed that racial integration is best for all schools. Very early in his professional life Marshall broke down racial barriers and overcame resistance despite the odds. He then became a role model of the disciplined leader, although he didn’t have the religious qualities or charisma as Martin Luther King. However, in terms of achievements, most of us would agree that he should be ranked next to Martin Luther King Jr. Thurgood was particularly famous for winning the Brown vs. Board of
After Being Dragged out of their homeland, brought to an unknown country, and forced to be slaves, African-Americans saw a road trip to equality through the eyes of Martin Luther King, Jr. Even after being emancipated from slaves to citizens, African-Americans were not ready to wage the battle against segregation alone. The weight which African Americans carried on their back, was lightened when they began to see what Martin Luther King, Jr. brought to the table against segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the single most important African-American leader of the Civil Rights Movement and was responsible for dramatically improving the chance of equality for African-Americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the key individual, which helped
Thurgood Marshall is the first African American who joined the supreme court justice. This action lead to various amounts of segregation being extinct to society. There are numerous of people that still believe racism is in the air. Racism is mostly caused from white citizens being mean to African Americans. Marshall’s lifespan changed society past, present, and probably future.
On February 26, 2012, an apparently innocent teenager was shot as he walked home through his neighborhood late at night. The Trayvon Martin killing and trial has recently been one of the primary topics covered by the media in America. The response to the news coverage of the case has been staggering. Students have organized hoodie marches and created Facebook groups to protest the unjustified murder of the young man. However, is the American public as well informed as it pretends to be? Americans have an unsettling susceptibility to manipulation from the media. In 1991, a similar event occurred in the case of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, where Supreme Court nominee, Clarence Thomas, had his personal affairs put on display for
Throughout the 20th century, Thurgood Marshall blazed the trail for the Civil Rights Movement from two sides of the American Legal System, both as a lawyer, and as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Marshall’s initial rise to fame came as a result of his success as the head lawyer for the Brown family in Brown vs. The Board of Education.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had a common purpose for African Americans; justice and equality. Illustrated through their speeches, Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” and Malcolm X’s “Talk to Young African Americans”, the two did not share techniques or ideas. Yet both men had the support of millions and millions of people.
"Thurgood Marshall was a rebel."(1) His method of activism differed from those of other civil rights leaders of the time. By addressing the courts and using his legal expertise, Marshall was able to have a more direct influence on society and the way government was treating blacks at the time. His use of the of the courts led to rulings that deemed the exclusion of blacks from primary elections, the use of racial profiling in terms of housing, the "separate but equal" mentality concerning working facilities and universities, and especially the segregation of elementary schools unconstitutional. With a resume like that it is no wonder he is still considered one of the most influential of the civil rights
Chapter 21 Question 2: What key issues and events led the federal government to intervene in the civil rights movement? What were the major pieces of legislation enacted, and how did they dismantle legalized segregation?
Around the 1800’s, John Marshall played an important role in the society. He was the decision maker at court, allowing him more power over the law. Many people believe that the things that Marshall did, were wrong. But according to the following documents, either he was forced to do the things he did, or people may have misinterpreted his intentions from the start. From since he was appointed by the court all they way up until he retired and died.
John Marshall is an American patriot who climbed to success through hard-work, determination, and a strong will to protect the constitution of The United States of America. He held many prominent places in American government as well as on front lines of the army defending freedom. John Marshall became the fourth Supreme Court justice for three whole decades, issuing major verdicts on cases that helped to develop, limit, and divide government power.
Thurgood Marshall was possibly one of the most important and influential people in our history. He was from Baltimore, Maryland, and attended segregated schools growing up. He decided to go into law, graduating first in his class at Howard University School of Law. He would eventually become the first African American justice on the Supreme Court. In this essay I will investigate the life, the career, and the legacy of Thurgood Marshall.
Thurgood Marshall was a U.S. Supreme Court justice and civil right propagandist. Therefore, Marshall earned an important place in American history on the basis of two accomplishments. First, as legal counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), he guided the prosecution that devastated the legal groundwork of Jim Crow segregation. Second, as an associate justice of the Supreme Court and the nation’s first black justice. He crafted a particular jurisprudence distinguishable by uncompromising liberalism, unusual attentiveness to empirical scrutiny beyond the formalities of law, and an indefatigable willingness to dissent.
“ No, I’m not an American. I’m one of the 22 million people who are victims of Americanism, one if the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy. So, I’m not standing here speaking to you as an American, or a patriot, or flag-saluter, or a flag waver. No, not I. I am speaking to you as a victim of the American system. And I see America through the eyes of a victim. I don’t see any American dream. I see an American nightmare!