Individuals of Importance to the Civil Rights
Thurgood Marshall
"A child born to a black mother in a state like Mississippi ... has the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for." -Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall is a very important historical importance to the civil rights in ending legal segregation.
1930- Marshall applied for the University of Maryland Law School, although he was well qualified for academics he was still denied due to his race. This played a lasting impression on him which helped him decide what he would do the rest of his life. He then decided to attend Howard University Law School, an all black school.
1936- He then won several cases as a lawyer involving racial problems. These wins helped spark movements to stop legal segregation.
1940- Thurgood was handed a difficult case, it involved 4 black men that had been convicted of murder by word of white policemen. This was known as Chambers vs. Florida. Marshall had won this case but more importantly it had been his first case won before the Supreme Court.
1954- Marshall became part of one of the most important cases of the 20th century, this was known as Brown vs. Board of Education. This case was about a black family was not able to go to a white school closer to them than the black school, Brown took it to the Supreme Court were Thurgood Marshall was their lawyer. Since he won this case the "Separate but Equal" doctrine was created allowing blacks to go to a white school.
1961- President Johnson decided he wanted Thurgood to serve on the bench. He had made over one hundred decisions that had not been overturned by the Supreme Court.
1967- Marshall was sworn into the Supreme Court bench. He then became the first African American to serve for the nations highest court.
1930- Marshall applied for the University of Maryland Law School, although he was well qualified for academics he was still denied due to his race. This played a lasting impression on him which helped him decide what he would do the rest of his life. He then decided to attend Howard University Law School, an all black school.
1936- He then won several cases as a lawyer involving racial problems. These wins helped spark movements to stop legal segregation.
1940- Thurgood was handed a difficult case, it involved 4 black men that had been convicted of murder by word of white policemen. This was known as Chambers vs. Florida. Marshall had won this case but more importantly it had been his first case won before the Supreme Court.
1954- Marshall became part of one of the most important cases of the 20th century, this was known as Brown vs. Board of Education. This case was about a black family was not able to go to a white school closer to them than the black school, Brown took it to the Supreme Court were Thurgood Marshall was their lawyer. Since he won this case the "Separate but Equal" doctrine was created allowing blacks to go to a white school.
1961- President Johnson decided he wanted Thurgood to serve on the bench. He had made over one hundred decisions that had not been overturned by the Supreme Court.
1967- Marshall was sworn into the Supreme Court bench. He then became the first African American to serve for the nations highest court.
James Meredith
"My answer to the racial problem in America is to not deal with it at all. The founding fathers dealt with it when they made the Constitution." -James Meredith
James Meredith was an African American civil rights activist who was the first black person to attend the University of Mississippi.
1961- James applied to the Univ. of Mississippi and was accepted to the school, but was rejected his acceptance by the governor himself once they discovered his race. While James knew this was illegal to deny education do to race he took it to the Supreme Court which ruled in his favor of the outcome.
1962- Meredith showed up to the university but found that riots had been started due to his appearance and the doors had been blocked by local officials.
1962 September 20- 500 U.S. troops were sent by President Kennedy allowing James to enter the school.
1962 October 1- James became the first person to enlist in the University of Mississippi.
1963- Meredith graduated from the university with a degree in political science.
1966- James Meredith published is book entitled "Three Years in Mississippi:"
1968- James received a masters degree in economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, and degree in law from Columbia University.
1961- James applied to the Univ. of Mississippi and was accepted to the school, but was rejected his acceptance by the governor himself once they discovered his race. While James knew this was illegal to deny education do to race he took it to the Supreme Court which ruled in his favor of the outcome.
1962- Meredith showed up to the university but found that riots had been started due to his appearance and the doors had been blocked by local officials.
1962 September 20- 500 U.S. troops were sent by President Kennedy allowing James to enter the school.
1962 October 1- James became the first person to enlist in the University of Mississippi.
1963- Meredith graduated from the university with a degree in political science.
1966- James Meredith published is book entitled "Three Years in Mississippi:"
1968- James received a masters degree in economics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, and degree in law from Columbia University.
Google- Thurgood Marshall, James Meredith
http://www.biography.com/people/thurgood-marshall-9400241
http://www.biography.com/people/james-meredith-9406314