October 8, 2020

THURGOOD MARSHALL
It was on October 2, 1967 that Thurgood Marshall made history as the first African American to hold a position on the Supreme Court - a seat he held for 24 years, fighting for racial equality and other human rights. His rulings showcased his beliefs in individual rights and working vigorously to protect them. Justice Marshall was not afraid to speak his beliefs on controversial social issues.

“The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis.”
― Thurgood Marshall

In 1925, Marshall graduated high school eager to attend college and continue learning. Despite being qualified, he was turned away from the Maryland School of Law because of the color of his skin. After that, he moved on to study law at Howard University, graduating top of his class and finding his passion for ending segregation.
He became one of the attorneys for the NAACP, winning his first case with them by successfully arguing that the Maryland School of Law School should allow students of color. He continued to fight for equal education rights with cases such as McLaurin v. Oklahoma Board of Regents of Higher Education, tearing away at Jim Crow laws one court case at a time. His most notable case, Brown vs. The Board of Education, ended segregation within American public schools, though this win did not mean the fight was over - and he knew that. 
October 2nd is also International Non-Violence Day. Established in 2007, this event falls on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. Gandhi shared his belief that “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”. It seems fitting this is also the same day that Justice Marshall was sworn into the Supreme Court, so many years earlier. Marshall left behind a legacy of cases and rulings that extended a message of acceptance and togetherness.
For more information on Thurgood Marshall:

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