Thurgood Marshall: “Mr. Civil Rights” and the Fight for Racial Justice

Known as “Mr. Civil Rights” for his advocacy on behalf of racial justice, Thurgood Marshall argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, arguably the most important Supreme Court decision in history. He later became the first African American to serve as U.S. Solicitor and as a Supreme Court Justice. Justice William Brennan wrote that his friend and colleague was “the central figure in this nation’s struggle to eliminate institutional racism.”

In this powerful 15-lecture audio series from award-winning law professor David L. Hudson Jr., you’ll follow the trajectory that led Marshall to become a transformational counsel for the NAACP and in 1967 the first African American Supreme Court Justice. He sat on the Court for 24 years, leaving an indelible impact in many areas of law. You’ll understand why Justice Elena Kagan has called him “the most important lawyer of the 20th century.”

The author or editor of more than 40 books, Hudson is a leading expert on the U.S. Constitution and landmark Supreme Court cases. He presents on Marshall’s groundbreaking accomplishments with authority and awe. This series will leave you with a deeper appreciation of one of America’s racial pioneers and true heroes of American life.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.