Thoroughgood Marshall was born in 1908 in Baltimore to Norma and William Canfield Marshall. His father held various jobs as a waiter in hotels, in clubs, and on railroad cars, and his mother was an elementary school teacher. In second grade, "Thoroughgood" (his paternal grandfather's name) changed his name to "Thurgood." His father enjoyed following legal cases, and Thurgood often went to court with him to observe the proceedings. He later said that his father "never told me to become a lawyer, but he turned me into one ... He taught me how to argue, challenged my logic on every point, by making me prove every statement I made, even if we were discussing the weather." Marshall attended the Colored High and Training School (later Frederick Douglass High School) in Baltimore, then Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the oldest college for African Americans in the U.S. After earning a degree in American literature and philosophy, being unable to attend the all-white University of Maryland Law School, he applied to Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., and was admitted. He was mentored by Charles Hamilton Houston, who taught his students to be "social engineers" using the law to fight for civil rights. Marshall graduated 1933, first in his class, and he passed the Maryland bar that year. He practiced in Baltimore and rose to become NAACP's special councel in 1939. He argued several landmark civil rights cases. Before the Supreme Court in 1952, Marshall spoke plainly and conversationally, in contrast to the oratorical rhetoric of his adversary. Two years later, the Supreme Court handed down its unanimous decision in the case, Brown v. Board of Education. Later, Marshall later said, "I was so happy I was numb." JFK appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1961 after Congress adjourned without approving his nomination. Southern senators delayed Marshall's full confirmation for more than eight months. He was confirmed in 1962. In 1965, LBJ nominated Marshall to Solicitor General, and he was confirmed quickly. Two years later, LBJ nominated him to the Supreme Court. After contentious hearings, he was confirmed by the Senate. On this date in 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Credits: https://w.wiki/3j65 Photo: https://w.wiki/WGcm 1925 Colored High and Training School Public Domain Today I rode a short spin, in case it helps my legs end up in the right place to climb Mount Diablo more easily in two days. I kept my cadence high and didn't climb any hills, but I pushed a bit, hence my average speed above 15 mph. Very sunny, but cool, and only a light headwind going up the coast. Glad I started early. Tomorrow, I'd like to start even earlier and spin easier and for a shorter distance. Then I'll head over to Alameda County to camp overnight and get up early for the Mount Diablo Challenge!