SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
Even before his appointment as the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, Thurgood Marshall had established himself as a formidable civil rights lawyer. Renowned for arguing the landmark Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court in 1954, Marshall won this case, invalidating the separate but equal doctrine and confirming racial segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. Marshall devoted his legal career to protecting the constitutional rights of the most vulnerable Americans and won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Now Becoming Thurgood takes viewers beyond the legend to learn about the origins and impact of the man known as “Mr. Civil Rights.” This film begins with Justice Marshall’s journey from his early years in Baltimore and through his education at Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law. Next the film follows his distinguished career and his appointment to the Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and four years later as U.S. Solicitor General. And of course Becoming Thurgood delves into his time as a Supreme Court justice. While much is known of Justice Marshall’s life, this film offers a rare opportunity for people to hear Thurgood Marshall tell his own story in his own words. Using eight hours of recorded oral history, as well as insights from family members, leading historians, authors, and legal experts, this is much more than a documentary. “It’s a conversation with a man whose legal mind reshaped the nation and whose legacy still echoes through our justice system today,” says director Alexis Aggrey. “It was an honor to work on this film about an American titan whose legacy continues to expand and endure in these turbulent times,” said executive producer Stanley Nelson. Nelson brings his vast talent to Becoming Thurgood. The MacArthur Fellow and Emmy Award winner is a familiar presence on PBS, having created many documentaries including The Murder of Emmett Till (American Experience ) and Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (American Masters). The film will serve as the centerpiece of HBCU Week NOW 2025, a public media partnership that offers content about under-told stories including the history, legacy, cultural heritage, and degree programs offered by America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Premieres Tuesday, September 9 at 10 p.m. on VPM PBS. VPM.org