Black History Is American History: Celebrating Thurgood Marshall
"A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for."
"In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute."
Thurgood Marshall
As we conclude this month’s series on Black Americans who have impacted American life and culture, and who share a connection with the Episcopal Church, we remember the Honorable Thurgood Marshall. Marshall is best known as the first African American Supreme Court justice and an early advocate for pressing the nation’s courts in matters of civil rights. Prior to his becoming a justice, he was the Executive Director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Smith v. Allwright, Shelley v. Kraemer, and Brown v. Board of Education. While his legacy may be familiar, what might not be as well known is that he was a lifelong Episcopalian.
Marshall was an active member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Harlem, serving on the Vestry and as Senior Warden and Deputy to the 1964 General Convention. When his family moved to Washington, DC they joined St. Augustine’s Church. As a devoted Episcopalian, Marshall was also an ardent believer in the separation of church and state. He attended services infrequently after his appointment as Supreme Court Justice, concerned that he would develop biased political views which would influence his judgement. His faith was revealed in his work, however, as he sought justice for all.
In 2018 Marshall became an honored saint in the Episcopal church, being added to Lesser Feasts and Fasts, a liturgical resource in which we “celebrate in the lives of the saints is the presence of Christ expressing itself in and through particular lives lived in the midst of specific historical circumstances.” A priest of Marshall’s, who sought his inclusion stated, “The Spirit working through this man gave him an intuitive sense of justice in which he saw all of life as sacred and all persons equal before God." We celebrate Thurgood Marshall in our prayers on May 17.
Eternal and ever-gracious God, you blessed your servant Thurgood Marshall with grace and courage to discern and speak the truth: Grant that, following his example, we may know you and recognize that we are all your children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Adapted from https://episcopalarchives.org/church-awakens/exhibits/show/leadership/lay/marshall
