Black History Month is celebrated each February in the U.S. While started in 1926, it was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 followed by Congress in 1986. Black History month is an educational opportunity to correct lack of representation in history. One person who played a huge role in black history was Thurgood Marshall.

Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall was the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Marshall was an American Civil Rights lawyer who served on the Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991. Marshall was born on July 2, 1908, and gained his education from Howard university School of Law.

One of Marshalls key achievements was Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Marshall successfully argued that segregated schools were inherently unequal, leading to the end of segregation in education. This case set the legal foundation for the civil rights movement and making the argument “separate but equal” a hollow promise in education.  Marshall was also known as “Mr. Civil Rights” for his outstanding success rate (29 wins in 32 Supreme Court arguments) in fighting segregation through the courts.

While America cannot change its past, Black History Month is one of many great ways to educate the world on black history and give it the spotlight it more than deserves.