A new documentary titled ‘Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect’ will premiere on PBS on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at 10 p.m. EST.
This one-hour film delves into the life and enduring impact of Thurgood Marshall, renowned as a visionary lawyer and the first Black justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Utilizing rare archival recordings, personal photographs, and exclusive interviews, the documentary paints an intimate portrait of Marshall and his profound contributions to American democracy.
Executive producers Stanley Nelson and Travis Mitchell have lent their expertise to the film, with Nelson recognized as an Emmy award-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker. Mitchell currently serves as senior vice president and chief content officer at Maryland Public Television (MPT).
The production, directed by Alexis Aggrey, features an original score by two-time Grammy winner Derrick Hodge.
The film employs a creative mix of animation, oral history, and sound to engage viewers in Marshall’s narrative.
It showcases Marshall as a strategic and courageous individual committed to justice, holding the nation accountable to the Constitution and reinventing the role of law in safeguarding civil rights.
Born in Baltimore in 1908, Marshall’s story unfolds from his childhood to his education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), specifically Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law.
His groundbreaking work as a civil rights lawyer catapulted him into the national spotlight as he dismantled segregationist policies and pursued equality in the courts.
Sherrilyn Ifill, a figure from Howard University School of Law, highlighted the vital role of lawyers during times of social upheaval, saying, ‘When there are changes happening in your country, when there’s unrest, when there’s unfairness, people look to lawyers for the answer.’
Marshall’s impact on civil rights is exemplified by his monumental victory in the case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
This landmark decision overturned the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine, effectively dismantling legal racial segregation in public schools across America.
Following this decision, Marshall faced tremendous resistance from segregationists, with powerful political figures, including U.S. Senators and state governors, striving to maintain the status quo of white supremacy.
The legal battles for desegregation continued for decades afterward, culminating in various notable instances, such as the violence confronting the Little Rock Nine in 1957.
In this instance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was compelled to deploy the National Guard to safeguard the nine Black students attempting to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Similarly, officials in Prince Edward County, Virginia, closed their entire school system for five years to thwart integration after a court order was issued in 1959.
Marshall’s career culminated in 1967 when he became the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served for an impressive 24 years until his retirement in 1991.
In his reflections on the ongoing struggle for justice, Marshall aptly noted, ‘To those of us who know the struggle is far from over, history has another lesson.
It tells us how deeply rooted habits of prejudice are, dominating the minds of men and all our institutions for three centuries, and it cautions us to continue to move forward, lest we fall back.’
Viewers are encouraged to tune in to ‘Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect’ on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app for an insightful exploration of a figure who changed the course of American history.
image source from：baltimorefishbowl
