TOPEKA (KSNT) – Thurgood Marshall was a civil rights icon long before he ever became the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
In 1954, he successfully argued for the plaintiffs in the landmark Brown v. Board decision which outlawed racial segregation in public schools across the country. The case was Marshall’s 32nd in front of the nation’s highest court and his 29th win.
Now, 70 years later, Marshall’s son honored his father’s legacy by visiting Topeka for the first time.
“When my dad used to go places,” John W. Marshall said, “we’d always heard about the Brown versus Board of Education case. So, this is like full circle for me to actually be here in Topeka.”
The 70th Anniversary Brown Coalition hosted ‘An Evening of Reflection’ at Washburn University with John as the esteemed guest.
John called the Brown case the ‘north star’ towards racial equality and said the fight for civil rights continues today.
“Here we are 70 years later still struggling with very many similar issues. So, with the state we’re in now, I really don’t want to think about what it would be like had we not had the Brown case as a steady foundation for us.”
John W. Marshall on the lasting impact of Brown v. Board
John said while the night was a tribute to his father, it was also about paying homage to all the people who fought alongside him.
“This case was about everybody else,” John said. “It was about people he called the ‘unsung heroes.’ People like Oliver Brown, Linda Brown. Those people that stayed behind after these cases were argued. Many times at risk to themselves.”
The Brown decision is a vital piece of history for both the United States and the Marshall family. John said it meant a lot to him to see where it all began.
“Yes, it was a brilliant legal team headed by my dad,” he said. “But it took brave, courageous, ordinary citizens and their courage to stand up to even get that case in court.”
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