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From Wondery, I'm Jordan R. Coleman, and this is Who's Amazing Life?
You've heard of people who changed the course of history, but before they made their mark on the world, they were people like you and me still figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives.
On this episode, you will be that person everyone knows.
You might be a musician, or an athlete, a scientist, or a painter.
You may know what the person accomplished later in life, but now you can experience everything they faced along the way.
From challenges and heartbreak to triumphs and excitement all the moments that built this person into someone who would change the world.
There will be clues, so pay attention.
But only at the end will you find out who you are.
So sit back and imagine your amazing life as The Arguer.
Imagine you're 13 years old, sitting on a sofa in your family's house in Baltimore Maryland, and you're nervous, very nervous.
Any minute now, your dad will arrive home from work and you're definitely not looking forward to it.
Your heart pounds as the front door opens.
And your dad steps inside.
Evening, son.
What's that look on your face?
Um, I have something to tell you.
Your dad sighs.
He sits down in a chair across the room and folds his arms across his chest.
Let's hear it.
I got sent to the principal's office today.
Goofing off again?
Yeah.
Your dad looks tired and frustrated.
More than anything, he wants you to take school seriously.
And once again, you've disappointed him.
So, what did the principal say this time?
It was weird.
Instead of detention, he gave me an assignment.
He told me I couldn't leave until I memorized this.
You hand your dad a piece of paper.
Your dad glances down.
And then he does the strangest thing he could possibly do.
He smiles.
The Constitution of the United States of America.
All right, young man.
On your feet.
Let's hear it.
You step to the middle of the living room and face your dad.
We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union.
Why are you mumbling?
Start again and say it with pride.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice.
You know the Constitution was written a long time ago, not long after the country was founded.
But you've never thought about what the Constitution actually says.
The part the principal made you memorize is about Congress and how it passes laws.
Finally, you reach the end.
The foregoing powers.
That's as far as I got.
Not bad, son.
Maybe you'd do well to memorize the rest of it.
But why?
It's 1921, and this was written all the way back in 1787.
What does it have to do with me?
Your dad shakes his head and smiles.
I suppose I could tell you, but maybe it'd be better if I showed you.
Tomorrow afternoon, you and I are going on a little field trip together.
As your dad leans back and starts reading his newspaper, you wonder what on earth could he be planning for you?
The next afternoon, your dad takes you somewhere you've never been before the Baltimore City Courthouse.
Order!
Order in the court!
Your dad leads you from one courtroom to another.
Inside each one is a trial and lawyers making their case.
Your Honor, the law is clear.
My client must be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Today, Your Honor, our witness testimony will prove that the defendant broke the law.
You marvel at the skill of the lawyers, how they back up their arguments with their knowledge of the law.
What they're doing looks hard, but it also looks exciting.
As you walk home from the courthouse, your dad puts his hand on your shoulder.
All those arguments the lawyers made were based on the rules set up by the U.S.
Constitution.
The rules in the Constitution are there to make sure everyone is treated fairly and that justice is served.
Later that night, the scenes from the courthouse replayed through your mind.
You've been in arguments before, even won a few, but nothing like what you saw today.
That was awesome.
You pick up the piece of paper you got from school, the Constitution.
Who knows?
If you get to know it better, maybe you could become a lawyer someday.
Before long, you know the Constitution backwards and forwards.
You keep visiting the courthouse to watch the lawyers in action.
Over dinner, your father tests your skills, asking your opinions on the news of the day, pushing you to back up your arguments with facts.
You even join your high school debate team and learn that you have a knack for arguing, just like those lawyers did.
A plan begins to form in your mind.
You're going to go to college and after college, law school.
But first, you need an amazing high school transcript.
And that might be a problem.
Your family is Black, and right now, in the 1920s, the city has different rules for people like you.
The schools in Baltimore are racially segregated, which means that Black students aren't allowed to go to the same schools as white students.
This puts black students at a disadvantage.
Black schools don't have the same resources as white schools, which makes it much harder for black students to get a good education.
Your high school doesn't even have a library or a gym.
And it's way more crowded than schools for white students.
It's hard to pay attention in a class where there are so many kids crammed into one small room.
But you're determined to do your best.
And despite these barriers, you stay focused, keep studying, and graduate high school.
You're one step closer to your dreams.
You're sitting in a diner, poking your fork at a plate of scrambled eggs.
You're in college, and just as you planned, you're getting ready to apply to law school.
Now you just need advice on how to actually get in.
The older black man sitting across from you isn't just a lawyer.
He's a fantastic lawyer.
You've seen him in action a few times at the courthouse.
Thanks for taking the time to meet with me.
So how long have you been a lawyer?
About five years now.
He takes a sip of coffee.
You said you need advice on how to get into a good law school.
Where are you planning to apply?
Well, my family doesn't have a lot of money, so it's got to be somewhere close to home.
I heard the University of Maryland has a great law school.
The lawyer looks you in the eye.
It is a great school, but it's been over 30 years since they last admitted a black student.
You shake your head, feeling frustrated.
But I'm an American citizen.
Doesn't the 14th Amendment of the Constitution say that all American citizens must be treated equally?
Yes, it does.
But 30 years ago there was a major court case that made it legal to discriminate against black people.
The Supreme Court decided that it was okay to have separate facilities based on race for schools bathrooms, seating areas or what have you.
They call it separate but equal.
But the quality isn't equal.
It never is.
I'm with you.
I'm just saying what the law is.
I'm not saying it's right.
You try to contain your disappointment.
Of course, you know all about what the lawyer is telling you.
The Supreme Court's decision made it possible for local governments to pass laws that make segregation a way of life for you and everyone else in the black community.
They're called Jim Crow laws.
The lawyer leans forward.
You know, there are some law schools farther north that admit black students.
I can't afford them.
The lawyer thinks for a moment.
Then, suddenly, he pulls out a notepad and jots something down.
Have you looked into Howard?
Sure.
That's the University for Black Students in Washington, D.C.
I don't know much about their law school, though.
They have a new dean who's making some big changes there.
His name is Charles Houston.
The lawyer rips the paper out of his notebook and hands it to you.
Give them a call and see if it's a fit.
I have a feeling it's just the right place for you.
You fold the paper and put it in your pocket.
It's good to know that law school is still in the cards, but you can't help feeling angry.
You know every word of the Constitution, and it's supposed to protect all Americans.
Why isn't it protecting you?
Following the advice of the lawyer, you pay a visit to Howard University.
You're impressed with what you see there and are excited when they accept you to their law school.
Charles Houston is an inspiring leader for the university, but he's also a great teacher.
With his help, you start to realize that there's more to being a lawyer than just arguing in a courtroom.
Sometimes winning a case isn't just about helping your own client.
It's about making a difference for a town or state or even the whole country.
Professor Houston recognizes how unfair Jim Crow laws are for Black people and he helps you understand that by fighting to uphold the Constitution, lawyers can help bring those laws to an end.
After three years of hard work, you graduate from Howard University's law school and become a lawyer.
You follow in Professor Houston's footsteps and become a lawyer for the NAACP, an organization that fights for fairness and justice for Black people.
There's a very big case brewing.
And together with Professor Houston... you're going to help fight it.
If you can win it, the impact might be bigger than you can imagine.
You're 27 years old, and once again you find yourself inside a packed courtroom.
But today, you're not just watching a big case, you're fighting it.
You glance around the room.
Reporters are scribbling in their notepads and spectators are buzzing with excitement.
This is a case that could finally turn a wrong into a right.
On your left is your mentor, Charles Houston.
To your right is your client, a young black man named Donald Murray.
Mr. Murray reminds you a lot of yourself.
Just like you, he wanted to attend the law school at the University of Maryland.
And just as you were warned all those years ago, his application was rejected because he's black.
The NAACP has had enough of this unfair treatment.
So together with Professor Houston, you filed a case.
The NAACP is taking on the University of Maryland.
All rise.
You stand up as the judge walks into the courtroom and takes his seat behind the bench.
Over the past week, you and Mr. Houston have questioned witnesses and presented your case.
Now it's time for the closing argument.
And Mr. Houston wants you to give it.
Remember what I told you.
Justice is never given.
It is exacted.
So go get it.
As you step toward the center of the courtroom, you have just one thing on your mind.
The United States Constitution.
Your Honor, the 14th Amendment of our Constitution guarantees all American citizens equal protection under the law.
The state of Maryland has only one law school, and it's at the University of Maryland.
The university has two choices.
It can build a brand new law school for black students that is truly equal to the school for white students.
Or it can do the right thing and simply admit Donald Murray to the University of Maryland.
The judge listens carefully as you make your point.
After you're done, you take a seat next to Mr. Houston.
Nice work.
We just might win this thing.
In the case of Donald Murray versus the state of Maryland, I'm ruling in favor of Mr. Murray.
The University of Maryland is hereby ordered to admit Mr. Murray to their law school immediately.
Donald claps his hands as you and Professor Houston turn to each other in disbelief.
You won the case!
By fighting to uphold the Constitution, you haven't just changed the life of an aspiring lawyer.
You've set things in motion to change the entire country.
And you're just getting started.
You become the NAACP's chief lawyer and you fight one case after another on behalf of black people suffering discrimination and injustice.
In 1954, you win a landmark case called Brown versus Board of Education.
Thanks to your hard work and expertise, the Supreme Court of the United States rules that separate public schools for black and white students are unconstitutional.
The ruling helps to finally bring an end to Jim Crow laws.
In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appoints you to be a Supreme Court Justice of the United States.
That makes you the first black man in history to take on this important job.
While the fight for equality is far from over, you paved the way to justice for all Americans, as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
You are Thurgood Marshall.
If you like, Whose Amazing Life.
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From Wondery, this is Who's Amazing Life.
This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details.
While we can't know exactly what was said, we use many sources when researching our stories.
Some that were particularly helpful include, Up Close Thurgood Marshall by Chris Crow and Thurgood Marshall, American Revolutionary, by Juan Williams.
I'm your host, Jordan R. Coleman.
This episode was written by Matt Almos.
Sound design by Lucas Siegel.
Additional audio assistance is by Sergio Enriquez.
Desi Blaylock is our coordinating producer and Matt Gant is our managing producer.
Jennifer Klein Walker is our producer.
Megan Bagala and Jenny Bloom are our senior producers.
Executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louis and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery.
