This fall, audiences will have the opportunity to delve deep into the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the trailblazing legal figure who forever altered the American justice system as the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
PBS is set to premiere “Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect” on Tuesday, September 9 at 10 p.m. ET, available on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app.
Executive produced by Stanley Nelson, the Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind notable documentaries such as “Becoming Frederick Douglass” and “Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom,” along with Travis Mitchell of Maryland Public Television, this new one-hour film is directed and produced by Alexis Aggrey.
A standout aspect of this documentary is that it uniquely features Marshall’s own voice, drawn from an exceptional eight-hour oral history recording.
For the first time, viewers can hear Thurgood Marshall narrate his own experiences and reflect on his monumental contributions to American law and civil rights.
“This film is the first to center Marshall’s own voice, drawn from a rare eight-hour oral history. It’s not just a documentary; it’s a conversation with a man whose legal mind reshaped the nation and whose legacy still echoes through our justice system today,” Aggrey stated.
Marshall’s journey—from his childhood in Baltimore, through his education at Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law, to his landmark victories with the NAACP—serves as a testament to his unwavering determination and commitment to justice.
Nelson remarked, “It was an honor to work on this film about an American titan whose legacy continues to expand and endure in these turbulent times. I’m pleased to again be partnering with Maryland Public Television.”
Travis Mitchell added, “We are honored to be working with this amazing team of filmmakers to explore the extraordinary life of Justice Thurgood Marshall, one of Maryland’s most illustrious sons. Justice Marshall’s journey from his Baltimore childhood to his education at HBCUs, from his groundbreaking legal career at the NAACP to his history-making appointment to the Supreme Court, is a story of almost unprecedented achievement and one we know that PBS viewers will find illuminating as well as inspiring.”
Among his numerous accomplishments, Marshall’s legacy includes winning 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, notably the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which effectively dismantled segregation in public schools.
In 1967, he made history as the first African American to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The film will also feature insights from Marshall’s family, renowned historians, legal scholars, and civil rights advocates, all sharing their perspectives on the extensive impact of his legacy across the nation.
“Becoming Thurgood” will highlight the contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and will serve as the centerpiece of HBCU Week NOW 2025, an initiative aimed at showcasing the influence of HBCUs in America.
Additional programming will be available through the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel and on social media platforms.
Viewers can catch the PBS broadcast on September 9, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. ET, and can also stream the documentary via PBS.org or the PBS app on various devices.
For further information regarding the film, please visit mpt.org and hbcuweeknow.com.
image source from：chicagodefender
