Fun Fact: Which Baltimore Native Was Pivotal in Shaping American History?

Celebrating Black History Month means recognizing the influential figures who have shaped our nation. Among them is Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native, lawyer, and civil rights activist who left an indelible mark on American history.

Historical Figures Who Helped Shape Our Future Nehemiah Bester, Communications Strategist, Communications

Marshall’s legacy is profound. Marshall was born on July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore and then Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Marshall faced racial discrimination firsthand, even being denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School because of his race. He later attended Howard University Law School, graduating first in his class in 1933.

After law school, Marshall began a career fighting racial injustice and inequality. He founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He served as executive director on landmark Supreme Court cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, where he successfully argued that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, effectively ending the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine. He also played a pivotal role in cases such as Smith v. Allwright (1944), which challenged racial segregation in the white primary system, and Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), where he fought against racially restrictive covenants in housing agreements. Marshall’s legal victories in these cases, among others, helped dismantle institutionalized racism and shape the course of civil rights in America.

In 1967, he made history as the first African American Justice to serve on the United States Supreme Court, where he remained until 1991.

His impact extended beyond the courtroom. BWI Airport in Baltimore was named in his honor, and a statue commemorating him stands at Lawyer’s Mall in front of the Maryland State House in Annapolis. Thurgood Marshall’s commitment to justice and equality earned him the nickname “Mr. Civil Rights.” A rare honor marked his funeral in 1993: his flag-draped casket lay in state in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court, making him only the second justice to receive this tribute.

Thurgood Marshall died in 1993, leaving behind a legacy that earned him the nickname “Mr. Civil Rights.” Before his funeral, his flag-draped casket was laid in state in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court. He was only the second justice to be given this honor. – Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on behalf of the Federal Judiciary.

For a list of some of the most influential African Americans from Maryland, please see Historical Figures Who Helped Shape Our Future.

If you would like your county featured in Fun Facts, please contact Amanda Grosskrueger at agrosskrueger@mdcounties.org.