Grace Sohoel-Goldberg

Due 11-9
Thurgood Marshall Questions

1. How has your understanding of Thurgood Marshall changed as a result of

listening to the video?
Thurgood Marshall was more than just a well-known civil rights advocate, he
was an average man. He ate Campbells soup, framed photos of his family
and made really cheesy jokes. This video has allowed me to understand how
Marshall could simultaneously be an extremely achieved lawyer while being
a friend and family member. It surprises me how one man can change the
20th century so much while still maintaining a humble sense of background
and characteristics. He makes leadership seems more attainable.
2. Who were and what was Marshall's connection to or interaction with the
following individuals: Charlie Houston, Langston Hughes, Robert Kennedy,
William O. Douglas, and Malcolm X?
Charlie Houston: mentor of Marshall, taught Marshall that changing the world
starts with small actions that build up towards a common cause (fighting in
war with black soldiers, attending law school, fighting small cases, etc. to
work blacks up from the bottom)
Langston Hughes: classmate at Lincoln University, challenged his beliefs on
integration of white schools and faculty
Robert Kennedy: wasnt sure if Marshal should become supreme court lawyer
because of the power and fear related to Southern Segregationists but
Marshall pushed Kennedy and eventually was elected
William O. Douglas: Douglas went against one of Marshalls rulings in the
Supreme Court and Douglas felt extremely offended over the fact that he

Grace Sohoel-Goldberg

was put on the Supreme Court just because he was black and didnt agree
with his beliefs.
Malcolm X: Marshall didnt like Malcolm X because he felt that he wasnt
doing much for America except causing trouble. He also felt threatened when
Malcolm X would call him names like half-white son of a gun, or son-of-abitch.

3. What example can you cite in which Marshall had to take a position as a
legal advocate that differed from his personal perspective on an issue?
Marshall took a position as a legal advocate that differed from his personal
perspective in Marshall, when he is Solicitor General of the United States. He
argues that it's too much to ask policemen to give this Miranda briefing, that
it's going to obstruct their ability to perform their law protection duties. Many
people say Marshall, as the NAACP attorney, would never have made that
argument, that he was always for increasing civil liberties and civil rights,
and so that you wouldn't have heard the same argument out of his voice.
4. Williams says in the interview that Marshall "restructured the terms on
which we consider and argue and think about race in America." What does
he mean by this assertion? Do you agree or disagree and why."
I think that he means that Marshall, although a black man didnt find the
need to flaunt his race in obnoxious ways to gain his rights. He made
America realize that in order to gain rights; you need to work for them, not
fight for them. I cant say that I agree or disagree with this because Ive
never been in a position where Ive truly had to fight for my rights based on
the color of my skin. But, I can see what he is saying how rights are earned,
not given.