Thurgood Marshall, I know many of you hear that name, and think, “who is that dude”? Well, this dude was the first African American Justice on the Supreme Court. From a rascal little boy to a bold Justice on the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall was a great man. Marshall dedicated his life to civil rights and ending segregation.
Thurgood Marshall Biography
On July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland, Thurgood Marshall was born into a middle class family. His mother, Norma A. Marshall, was a teacher at an all black, segregated school; and his father, William C. Marshall, was a steward at an all-white Gibson Island Yacht Club. At the young age of 2, his family and he moved to Harlem in New York City, but, quickly returned to Baltimore when he was 6 years old, because of lack of liking the area. Back in Baltimore, he started kindergarten at the same school his mother taught at, because he needed an eye to watch over his mischievous behavior. Over his childhood, his father influenced his legal career path, without Marshall knowing. His father, William, always made him prove/justify his statements, taught him how to argue correctly, and challenged his logic.
Marshall’s parents encouraged him to become a dentist every since he was a little boy. So as soon as he got the chance, he enrolled in Lincoln University, to study medicine and dentistry. During his first years of college he was a regular college kid, pulling pranks and rolling through life, but he found himself growing bored of his studies. Marshall met Vivian Burey, a student form University of Pennsylvania at the beginning of his junior year in college. She brought him down to real life reality, and settled him down. The young couple married later that same year. Marshall graduated “cum laude” from Lincoln in 1930. Marshall finally realized he wanted to pursue a career path in law. He applied for the University of Maryland, but the all white school rejected him. He settled for Howard University in Washington D.C, a small all-black law school. There he graduated top of his class earning his LL.B.
After college, Marshall opened up a private law practice, along with joining NAACP, National Association for the Achievement of Colored People. This society was founded in 1909 by black and white citizen, to prevent violence, unjust legal penalties, and job discrimination. From 1950-1955 Marshall assembled a team of lawyers to organize legal and historical theories against segregation. His greatest triumph was Brown vs. Board of Education. With this team in tack, he traveled all over the south to talk to teachers, and NAACP members. Through the 1940-1950 he became a major civil rights leader. In February of 1955, Marshall’s wife died of lung cancer. A few months later, he married a secretary in the NAACP national office, Cecilia A. Suyat, and later had two children, John and William Thurgood.
In 1960s, Marshall took on many jobs that dealt with the Supreme Court to get to where he wanted to be. And finally in 1967, President Johnson named Thurgood Marshall the first African- American Supreme Court justice. Marshall was known for being very vocal, especially on the topic of civil rights. Marshall kept his place until he was forced to retire in 1991, because of health concerns. He later died at age 84, in 1993.
That day was a sad day for all, but all of us knowing the many great contributions Thurgood Marshall have done for this county kept us happy and grateful, for this brilliant man.
Citation-
Ferran, Christine. "Marshall, Thurgood 1908-1993." Student Resource Center Gold. Gale, 1993. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
"Marshall, Thurgood (1908-1993)." Student Resource Center Gold. Gale, 2003. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
"National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)." World Book Online. World Book Student, 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
Thurgood Marshall Biography
On July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland, Thurgood Marshall was born into a middle class family. His mother, Norma A. Marshall, was a teacher at an all black, segregated school; and his father, William C. Marshall, was a steward at an all-white Gibson Island Yacht Club. At the young age of 2, his family and he moved to Harlem in New York City, but, quickly returned to Baltimore when he was 6 years old, because of lack of liking the area. Back in Baltimore, he started kindergarten at the same school his mother taught at, because he needed an eye to watch over his mischievous behavior. Over his childhood, his father influenced his legal career path, without Marshall knowing. His father, William, always made him prove/justify his statements, taught him how to argue correctly, and challenged his logic.
Marshall’s parents encouraged him to become a dentist every since he was a little boy. So as soon as he got the chance, he enrolled in Lincoln University, to study medicine and dentistry. During his first years of college he was a regular college kid, pulling pranks and rolling through life, but he found himself growing bored of his studies. Marshall met Vivian Burey, a student form University of Pennsylvania at the beginning of his junior year in college. She brought him down to real life reality, and settled him down. The young couple married later that same year. Marshall graduated “cum laude” from Lincoln in 1930. Marshall finally realized he wanted to pursue a career path in law. He applied for the University of Maryland, but the all white school rejected him. He settled for Howard University in Washington D.C, a small all-black law school. There he graduated top of his class earning his LL.B.
After college, Marshall opened up a private law practice, along with joining NAACP, National Association for the Achievement of Colored People. This society was founded in 1909 by black and white citizen, to prevent violence, unjust legal penalties, and job discrimination. From 1950-1955 Marshall assembled a team of lawyers to organize legal and historical theories against segregation. His greatest triumph was Brown vs. Board of Education. With this team in tack, he traveled all over the south to talk to teachers, and NAACP members. Through the 1940-1950 he became a major civil rights leader. In February of 1955, Marshall’s wife died of lung cancer. A few months later, he married a secretary in the NAACP national office, Cecilia A. Suyat, and later had two children, John and William Thurgood.
In 1960s, Marshall took on many jobs that dealt with the Supreme Court to get to where he wanted to be. And finally in 1967, President Johnson named Thurgood Marshall the first African- American Supreme Court justice. Marshall was known for being very vocal, especially on the topic of civil rights. Marshall kept his place until he was forced to retire in 1991, because of health concerns. He later died at age 84, in 1993.
That day was a sad day for all, but all of us knowing the many great contributions Thurgood Marshall have done for this county kept us happy and grateful, for this brilliant man.
Citation-
Ferran, Christine. "Marshall, Thurgood 1908-1993." Student Resource Center Gold. Gale, 1993. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
"Marshall, Thurgood (1908-1993)." Student Resource Center Gold. Gale, 2003. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
"National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)." World Book Online. World Book Student, 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
Picture Citation-
World Book. Web. 03 Mar. 2010. .
