Join us for a screening and discussion of Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, a new documentary exploring the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the visionary lawyer and civil rights leader who became the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Drawing from rare archival recordings, personal photographs, and exclusive interviews, the film offers an intimate and timely portrait of a man who reshaped American democracy.

Following the film, join the conversation with featured speaker Cecilia Marshall, Justice Marshall’s granddaughter.

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Event Details

6:15pm – 7:15pm      Film Screening

7:30pm – 8:15pm     Discussion

About the Film

Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect explores the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the visionary lawyer and civil rights leader who became the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Drawing from rare archival recordings, personal photographs, and exclusive interviews, the film offers an intimate and timely portrait of a man who reshaped American democracy. Featuring powerful insights from acclaimed legal scholars and authors—Sherrilyn Ifill, Sheryll Cashin, Wil Haygood, Gilbert King, faculty and administrators from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Marshall’s family, the film traces his journey from his formative years at Lincoln University to his groundbreaking legal victories, including Brown v. Board of Education, and his enduring influence on the Supreme Court.

With a combination of oral history, animation, and evocative sound design, Becoming Thurgood brings Marshall’s story to life not as myth, but as a man of action—strategic, courageous, and deeply committed to justice. Through his work, Marshall held the nation accountable to its founding promises and redefined what was possible through the law. At a time when the struggle for civil rights and equal protection under the law remains urgent, Becoming Thurgood invites viewers to reflect on the power of legal activism, the role of HBCUs in shaping social architects, and the legacy of a man who helped move America closer to its highest ideals.

The film marks the latest collaboration between executive producer Nelson and Maryland Public Television, following the 2022 projects Becoming Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom.