“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.” –Luke 8:16
It was October 2, 1967 that Thurgood Marshall became as the first African-American justice with the United States Supreme Court. It has been 50 years since this historical moment in our country. Marshall served on the Supreme Court for 24 years.
Thurgood Marshall was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Johnson. He had a distinguished law career. Marshall often represented the NAACP in civil rights cases. He would eventually become the executive director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Perhaps his greatest success was as an attorney in the historical Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka. He helped to successfully end segregation in public schools. By all accounts, Thurgood Marshall lived a successful and full life.
Marshall’s career did not start out on a successful note. He was denied admittance to the first Law School of choice, based on his race. His dream to become an attorney was almost denied because of the racism of his time. Marshall quickly applied to Howard University Law school where he was accepted. Later, after his graduation from law school, he sued the University of Maryland, the school that denied him admittance, and he won. It would be the first of many cases that he would win in the fight to overcome segregation.
Thurgood Marshall struggled with many obstacles in his life, but he persevered and lived his life to help others overcome the trials of their day. His life was dedicated to seeking justice for all. He truly dared greatly.
How often do we allow setbacks to stop our progress? Marshall was denied acceptance to one law school, but he kept his eyes focused on his goals. He continued to pursue his dreams and in doing so, he blessed so many lives and helped to change the course of an entire country. Don’t let momentary setbacks keep you from daring greatly. There is often great success on the other side of setbacks.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
