Thurgood Marshall
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. Thurgood Marshall is the only black leader in American History who can argue that he defeated segregation where it really counts in court. Thurgood Marshall devised a legal strategy based on The United States Constitution; he forced rights to be extended equally to even the poorest and most disadvantaged citizens. Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908 in Baltimore Maryland. Thurgood Marshall many life accomplishments were instill upon him through his parents Norma Arica Mar
shall and William Canfield Marshall. Thurgood’s mother Norma Arica Marshall was one of the first Afro Americans to graduate from Columbia University. Thurgood’s father William Canfield Marshall was the first black person to serve on Baltimore’s grand jury in the 20th century. Thurgood Marshall was a premed dental scholar at Lincoln University in Oxford Pennsylvania. As a junior, Thurgood met and eventually married his first wife Vivian Buster Burey, after graduation Thurgood went to the prominent Howard Law School in Washington D.C. Charles Huston, who later helped shape and mold Thurgood’s knowledge of the United States Constitution, ran the law school. 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 milestone came in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy, appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals for the second circuit. Thurgood served his position with dignity, and used legal precedents in writing 112 opinions on that court, none of which were overturned on appeal. Additionally, the Supreme Court eventually adopted several of his dissenting opinions as majority opinions. In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall as a United States Solicitor General. Thurgood won 14 of 19 cases he argued for the government. Thurgood final accomplishment came in 1967 when President Johnson appointed him to the Supreme Court. Thurgood succeeded Justic Tom Clark. President Johnson was quoted as saying “Thurgood Marshall was the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place”. Thurgood tenure as a Supreme Court Justice last until 1991, due to health problems Thurgood had to retire. By 1993 Thurgood health problems worsen. Thurgood died of a heart attack at the age of 84. Thurgood was a visionary who help shape our American segregation culture. Thurgood wanted Afro Americans to be treated equally and fairly, and Thurgood accomplish this through the best legal knowledge to man The United States Constitution. Thurgood Marshall the man known world wide as “Mr. Civil Rights” was born on July 2, 1908 in Baltimore Maryland. As a boy, Thurgood was always driven with the desire and the will to succeed from his parents. Thurgood was the second son of William Canfield Marshall, and Norman Arica Marshall. William Marshall worked a variety of jobs including as a steward for the prestigious Gibson Island Club, on Chesapeake Bay located in Baltimore Maryland. William Marshall was the first black person to serve on Baltimore’s Grand Jury. Norma Arica Marshall a nice looking young lady was a kindergarten teac
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Approximate Word count = 10466
Approximate Pages = 42 (250 words per page double spaced)
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