Thurgood Marshall was a very important person in the fight for civil rights. He worked hard to make things fair and just for everyone, especially African Americans. He made history when he became the first African American Supreme Court Justice in 1967. Before that, he was already known for his work as a lawyer with the NAACP, an organization that defends civil rights.

Early Career and Legal Strategy

• Education: Thurgood went to Lincoln University and then to Howard University School of Law. Here, he learned a lot about civil rights law.
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund: In 1940, he became the head lawyer for the NAACP. He started fighting important legal battles against segregation, which is when people are separated based on their race, and discrimination.

Landmark Cases

1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

   • This was a major Supreme Court case that challenged separating students in public schools by race.
   • Marshall made the case that segregated schools were unfair and broke the law that says everyone should be treated equally.
   • The Court agreed with him, ruling 9-0 that "separate but equal" schools were not okay.

2. Other Notable Cases:

   • Smith v. Allwright (1944): This case got rid of "white primaries" in Texas, meaning it wasn't fair to stop African Americans from voting in primary elections.
   • Shelley v. Kraemer (1948): The Supreme Court decided that courts couldn’t force people to follow racial rules in housing, helping African Americans get equal chances to own homes.

Impact on Civil Rights Laws

Thurgood Marshall's wins in court helped the whole Civil Rights Movement. He set important legal standards that fought against racism. His hard work was essential in:

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: This important law made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or where someone is from. Marshall played a big part in pushing for this law.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: His arguments, along with the NAACP, were crucial for this act, which aimed to remove obstacles that prevented African Americans from voting.

Statistics Highlighting Achievements

• From 1935 to 1961, Marshall argued over 32 cases in front of the Supreme Court and won 29 of them. That’s an impressive success rate of about 91%.
• Because of his efforts, the number of African American voters jumped from 1 million in 1960 to over 7 million by 1965. This shows just how much impact he had on voting rights.

Legacy

Thurgood Marshall's work went beyond winning cases in court. His dedication to fairness and justice inspired many activists and future lawyers.

• Judicial Philosophy: As a Supreme Court Justice, he continued to support civil rights, often disagreeing with decisions that he thought hurt the progress made during the Civil Rights Movement.
• Mentorship and Education: He inspired many young lawyers who carried on the fight for civil rights, ensuring that his legacy would last long after he left the Supreme Court.

In conclusion, Thurgood Marshall was a vital force in breaking down segregation and discrimination. His clever legal strategies helped secure important rights for African Americans and changed the way laws worked in America. His efforts laid the groundwork for future progress in civil rights, making him a key figure in this important movement.