All about Thurgood Marshall
By: Molly Lang
Early years
Thoroughgood "Thurgood" Marshall was born July 2nd, 1908 in Baltimore, MD. His African American parents are William and Norma Marshall. Thurgood was a quiet, shy child, until the age of 5 or 6 when he became more outspoken and was willing to offer his opinion on just about everything. Thurgood got in trouble a lot in school, and his principal would have the bad kids go to the basement and memorize one page of the Constitution. Thurgood showed the most interest in the Bill Of Rights section this is the section with all of the laws and rules people had to follow, it also had rules that protected citizens from oppressive government.
Education
Thurgood attended Fredrick Douglass high school. For college he went to Lincoln University, he wanted to go to the University of Maryland law school, but was turned down because of his race. For graduate school he attended Howard University school of law.
The NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (aka NAACP). The NAACP was one of the many organizations determined to wipe out discrimination against African Americans. Lawyers at NAACP spent many hours at libraries working on discrimination cases.
Career
After law school Thurgood Marshall began as a lawyer for the NAACP. He argued numerous cases in the Supreme Court. He argued an outstanding case: "Brown v. Board of Education Topeka" This marked the beginning of the end to segregated schools. In 1961 Marshall was nominated by President John F. Kennedy t be a judge on the US Court of Appeals. In 1965 he was chosen to be United States Solicitor General,the governments top lawyer.
Family
In college Marshall met Vivian "Buster" Burey, they were both dedicated to their studies, but were able to squeeze in dates here and there. They were married in 1929 and stayed married until 1955 when she died of cancer. He married Cecilia Buyat in late December 1955. They had two kids: Thurgood Marshall j.r. and William Aubrey Marshall.
Death and Legacy
As health began to fail him, Thurgood Marshall retired from the courtroom when he was 83. He died January 24, 1993 at age 84 because of congestive heart failure.
Thurgood Marshall was an outspoken civil rights leader. Who because of his education was able to make sure African Americans are treated equally.