Library of Congress)
Earlier than the actor who performed Black Panther introduced him to life on the silver display, Thurgood Marshall had already secured his place as a real-life superhero of civil rights.
That’s precisely what the documentary “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect” focuses on, inviting viewers to “mirror on his work shaping the American authorized system.” As a pioneering drive within the authorized battle for civil rights, Marshall cemented his legacy as the primary African American man to be appointed to the Supreme Courtroom of the USA.
Via interviews with acclaimed authors, authorized students, and members of the family, the movie traces Marshall’s journey from his childhood and work with the NAACP Authorized Protection Fund to his appointment to the Supreme Courtroom — marking his inspirational accomplishments alongside the best way. “Legally talking, he’s one of many founding fathers,” famous creator Wil Haygood. Take a look at a trailer for the movie, beneath:
Born in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland, Marshall got here from humble beginnings through the segregation period, and as a baby, his father introduced him to courtroom to observe authorized proceedings. In line with his son, John, Marshall was “very impressed with watching legal professionals argue circumstances” — and he would later develop into one of the vital eloquent advocates ever to seem earlier than the Supreme Courtroom.
Marshall pursued a path of educational excellence, attending two outstanding Traditionally Black Schools and Universities, Lincoln College and Howard College Faculty of Regulation. From there, he embarked upon a profession that may make racial equality a actuality and alter the longer term for all Individuals.
Often called “Mr. Civil Rights,” Marshall repeatedly took up difficult causes, profitable 29 of the 32 circumstances he argued earlier than the Supreme Courtroom, together with the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Schooling, which ended racial segregation in public colleges. His battle for equality didn’t finish there, nonetheless, as a few years of litigation adopted due to “large resistance” to the excessive courtroom’s resolution. Marshall by no means gave up, and secured victory after victory within the title of equality and justice for all.
“The work and lifetime of Thurgood Marshall actually modified this nation in methods which are extremely constructive and highly effective and that also resonate in the present day,” mentioned Sherrilyn Ifill of Howard Regulation.
Marshall’s historic rise to authorized prominence was rewarded with positions of word throughout the judiciary and the federal authorities. In 1961, he was appointed to U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 4 years later, he was appointed because the nation’s first Black Solicitor Normal. Then, in 1967, he was nominated to develop into the primary Black Supreme Courtroom justice in the USA. He served for twenty-four years, the place he continued to champion equal justice underneath the legislation, earlier than retiring in 1991.
Government producer Stanley Nelson said this of the movie’s iconic topic and its significance given in the present day’s battle for civil rights: “His story has all the time been related and well timed. However I feel that now, when we’ve got an actual assault on historical past, particularly African American historical past, it turns into extra related than ever.”
“Turning into Thurgood: America’s Social Architect” premieres Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app. The movie reminds us that earlier than he was ever portrayed as a personality, Marshall was — and stays — a real superhero of American justice.
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Regulation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to email her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You may observe her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join together with her on LinkedIn.
