Black History Month Highlight: Thurgood Marshall

As many of you know, February is recognized as Black History Month. During this month, I want to take the time to highlight some of the many African Americans who helped pave the way for not only myself as a black attorney, but for Americans as a whole. With each highlight, I will include some facts about the person being highlighted. The person I have chosen to highlight today, is Thurgood Marshall, and here are some facts you may be seeing for the first time or refreshing your memory of:

1. Graduated 1st in his class from Howard University School of Law.
2. Served as Chief Counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“NAACP”) Legal Defense and Education Fund.
3. Spearheaded the effort to end segregation in public schools in the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education.
4. Successfully argued 29 out of 32 cases in front of the United States Supreme Court while serving as Chief Counsel for the NAACP.
5. Was the first African American to serve as United States Solicitor General.
6. Served as the first African American justice (judge) on the United States Supreme Court.
7. Posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, from President Bill Clinton

Obviously, this is an abbreviated list, and Thurgood Marshall had his hand in many of the most important cases of the time. If you are interested in learning more about Thurgood Marshall and the enormous impact he made, and is still making, on the lives of all Americans, please research and check out one of the many books authored about his life and achievements.

James J. Hux is the Owner and Sole Attorney at Hux Law Firm, LLC. His practice areas include employment discrimination, personal injury, and general civil litigation throughout the State of Ohio.