Thurgood Marshall

by Chris Crowe

Thurgood Marshall changed American history by challenging it. In the first half of the twentieth century, African Americans were often treated as second-class citizens and subject to Jim Crow laws, which promoted both racism and segregation. This is the world that Marshall grew up in, and he became a lawyer to change it. As the head counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), he helped take the famous Brown v. Board of Education all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And in an outcome surprising even to him, the court unanimously ruled to end segregation in schools. Thurgood Marshall had become a hero.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2008

Reviews

[Zenobia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two books about Thurgood Marshall that I have yet to read, but I found this one in the library and just dove right jn because it was shorter. It started out great by talking about the history of race in America before Marshall's existence. I love when I read things that are intertwined into a7wc overall history. My only complaint about the book was how the author skipped over Marshall's Fraternity experience. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I know the generic frat story of a college kid does not do his story justice. As the story progressed, I really did appreciate knowing Marshall's thoughts about the civil rights movement at the time. Normally we just get these stories of Boycotts and riots in a vacuum, and not in relation to the legal changes from the court. So I really liked how the author included Marshall's thoughts about Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X (my personal hero). As a black lawyer and a history buff, I did enjoy this book. (Which is more evident by the fact that it rote a review, be ause I normally do not).

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know much about Marshall before reading this book and learned so much from it. Chris Crowe has clearly done his research on this book but manages to select just the right level of detail in describing the time period and the important court cases. I especially love how he integrated Marshall's own words wherever possible--doing so gave more insights into the man, in my opinion, than just about anything else in the book. Once the book reaches its emotional climax (the verdict in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case), things move pretty quickly towards Marshall's appointment to the Supreme Court. All in all, even if you think you know a lot about this time period, there's a lot to learn from this book and its exploration of the important contributions Justice Marshall made to the civil rights movement.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I'm not just giving this Five-Stars cuz my daddy wrote it!

This is a short and easy-read biography on Thurgood Marshall--the first appointed African American man on the Supreme Court. Marshall is considered to be one the most important men in the 21st century, and yet I'm sad to say I knew nothing about him up until a year ago. Once again, the continued oppression of African Americans in the United States astounds me! I don't even remember learning or reading about Marshall in any history books or classes... But without continuing on that rant (although it surely deserves further attention), I will say I think this is an interesting read for any who want to learn about an imperfect man who accomplished some amazing and wonderful things for our country.

[Autumn Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generous overview, but definitely outdated in perspective.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story about a true American hero.

[Imani Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the life and service of Justice Thurgood Marshall. It starts off with talking about the world that Marshall was born in, and then it talks about his family and how his mother met his father. The book emphasizes on Thurgood’s personality and how it really set him up for what would initially become, a lawyer. Little did he know that he would be the key lawyer that the NAACP would hire for their legal staff in cases like Brown vs. Board of Education and that he would also serve on the Supreme Court. The book talks about Thurgood as a student and how he met his wife in college, including quotes from their perspective on the ordeal. It vastly talks about his career and how he came to be such a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement Progression. It emphasizes the surrounding perspectives of people that were against Marshall and their motives. It then goes on to talk about Marshall’s later years. The book ends with showing how America has changed since Thurgood Marshall.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and well written. This is a YA biography that reads a lot like a story. Chris Crowe (author) selected the events that would tell Marshall's life-story best. At the same time as we learn about a very influential person in our country's story, we learn a lot about what it is like to be a minority in our country.

[Luke Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short biography. Informed me of so much that I did not know about this man.