What do you think?
Rate this book
Dream Makers, Dream Breakers: The World of Justice Thurgood Marshall
Dream Makers, Dream Breakers, the impassioned biography of the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, details the social, legal, economic, political, and moral history of the nation over most of the twentieth century. It covers the violent years of the black migration out of the post-bellum South, the frightening rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the Great Depression, two world wars, and the African-American revolution that took place.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
92 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 24, 2018
This book is about the life of the civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall who was eventually appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Johnson.
Thurgood Marshall spent a large part of his illustrious career working for the NAACP and was instrumental in ending many discriminatory segregation laws (Jim Crow) in the Southern U.S. states. The most significant was “Brown v Board of Education” which ended legal segregation in schools (despite this segregation by other means continues to exist in schools throughout the U.S.)
As the title of the book suggests Thurgood Marshall was a “Dream Maker”. He fought legally to end all forms of segregation. In many ways he has succeeded – restaurants, transportation, and hotel accommodations are now all largely non-discriminatory.
This book also provides a history of the United States from the 1940’s onwards. It gives us incisive comments on how the forces of right wing America have constantly fought back against the legal accomplishments on civil right’s and women’s rights. The Presidential eras of Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush packed the Supreme Court with conservatives. Their legislation for law and order filled American prisons. This book was published in 1993 and it is very prescient. It is scathing on George Wallace, Richard Nixon, and Clarence Thomas – and complimentary on Harry Truman and the Civil Rights legislation of Lyndon Johnson.
This book is not just about Thurgood Marshall, but gives us the trajectory of U.S. legal and social history since the 1940’s – some progressive and some regressive. There are several searing passages on Thurgood Marshall’s experiences in the Deep South.
Thurgood Marshall spent a large part of his illustrious career working for the NAACP and was instrumental in ending many discriminatory segregation laws (Jim Crow) in the Southern U.S. states. The most significant was “Brown v Board of Education” which ended legal segregation in schools (despite this segregation by other means continues to exist in schools throughout the U.S.)
As the title of the book suggests Thurgood Marshall was a “Dream Maker”. He fought legally to end all forms of segregation. In many ways he has succeeded – restaurants, transportation, and hotel accommodations are now all largely non-discriminatory.
This book also provides a history of the United States from the 1940’s onwards. It gives us incisive comments on how the forces of right wing America have constantly fought back against the legal accomplishments on civil right’s and women’s rights. The Presidential eras of Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush packed the Supreme Court with conservatives. Their legislation for law and order filled American prisons. This book was published in 1993 and it is very prescient. It is scathing on George Wallace, Richard Nixon, and Clarence Thomas – and complimentary on Harry Truman and the Civil Rights legislation of Lyndon Johnson.
This book is not just about Thurgood Marshall, but gives us the trajectory of U.S. legal and social history since the 1940’s – some progressive and some regressive. There are several searing passages on Thurgood Marshall’s experiences in the Deep South.
November 28, 2009
The thing that struck me most about this book was Rowan's writing style. He is an unashamed liberal. He believes in equality, the continuing relevance of race, freedom of speech, etc. and is not afraid to defend them through his analysis of Marshall's life. We have reached the point where the pendulum has swung so far that anyone who writes like Rowan is labeled an extremist, a socialist, or a "liberal" (with all its negative connotations). Also, Marshall's life story and the success he enjoyed throughout his career are inspiring and particularly timely given Obama's historic election. Full of good stories, I highly recommend this book.
July 19, 2010
When I was a teen, listening to Martin Luther King, I ignorantly thought the civil rights movement was "just starting", though I WAS vaguely aware of the 1954 Brown Vs. Topeka school de-segregation case.
Did I learn a lot from this book!! Thurgood Marshall, born in 1908 was an early and tireless member of the NAACP since its earliest days. I read with fascination of many cases in the 1930's and 1940's which set the stage for the continuance of the civil rights movement of the 1960's.
I discovered the many important cases that Marshall won before the ladmark 1954 case. Representing the NAACP , he argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court--and won 29! Considering the complexity of most cases before the Supreme Court, that is an incredible record.
Regardless of political beliiefs, Thurgood Marshall was an dynamic character and a skilled jurist caught up in the great legal battles of his time. The book is a well written mixture of interesting legal facts, and fascinating personal interviews and anecdotes with a very remarkable man.
REcommended for those interested in either Thurgood Marshall or the early years of the Civil Rights movement. Highly recommended for those with any interest in the US legal system.
Did I learn a lot from this book!! Thurgood Marshall, born in 1908 was an early and tireless member of the NAACP since its earliest days. I read with fascination of many cases in the 1930's and 1940's which set the stage for the continuance of the civil rights movement of the 1960's.
I discovered the many important cases that Marshall won before the ladmark 1954 case. Representing the NAACP , he argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court--and won 29! Considering the complexity of most cases before the Supreme Court, that is an incredible record.
Regardless of political beliiefs, Thurgood Marshall was an dynamic character and a skilled jurist caught up in the great legal battles of his time. The book is a well written mixture of interesting legal facts, and fascinating personal interviews and anecdotes with a very remarkable man.
REcommended for those interested in either Thurgood Marshall or the early years of the Civil Rights movement. Highly recommended for those with any interest in the US legal system.
June 22, 2018
This book felt more like a series of essays on the same theme and less like a coherent biography of Thurgood Marshall. Thurgood Marshall is a fascinating character and the book provided a lot of context, but there was unnecessary repetition and almost no exploration of Marshall's past or personal life. I think that's partly because of Rowan's friendship with Marshall.
Any law cases that are discussed are inadequately explained and can be very confusing. The book rushes past critical moments and lingers to long on others, hammering home the same ideas that have been present throughout the book. At least Marshall is interesting. That made up for a lot.
Any law cases that are discussed are inadequately explained and can be very confusing. The book rushes past critical moments and lingers to long on others, hammering home the same ideas that have been present throughout the book. At least Marshall is interesting. That made up for a lot.
October 28, 2009
The thing that struck me most about this book was Rowan's writing style. He is an unashamed liberal. He believes in equality, the continuing relevance of race, freedom of speech, etc. and is not afraid to defend them through his analysis of Marshall's life. We have reached the point where the pendulum has swung so far that anyone who writes like Rowan is labeled an extremist, a socialist, or a "liberal" (with all its negative connotations). Also, Marshall's life story and the success he enjoyed throughout his career are inspiring and particularly timely given Obama's historic election. Full of good stories, I highly recommend this book.
May 1, 2008
A huge introduction to a man who really changed the world. This should be required reading (and I think it is at some universities) for lawyers and historians alike. An incredible teaching tool. I met the author in Chicago and thanked him for giving us such a massive tool that can teach all of us about a sorely underrated individual who sometimes, unfortunately is typically viewed in the shadow of Dr. Martin Luther King.
February 7, 2013
This book was written by a journalist who knew Marshall It covered his life and work as a lawyer and judge. I felt the last chapters on his time as soliciter general and years in the court were the best parts of the book
February 8, 2008
This is what got me motivated to attend law school.
July 30, 2008
A bit too long and wordy but great insight into Thurgood Marshall and the journey of the civil rights movement
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews