Becoming Thurgood
BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT premieres Tuesday, September 9 on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app
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, redefined what was possible through the law, and helped move America closer to its highest ideals.
The film traces Marshall’s journey from his birth in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908 to his formative years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights and dismantling segregation.
Marshall won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, invalidating the “separate but equal doctrine” and ending racial segregation in public schools. But the decision was met with “massive resistance” across the South and continued to be fought in the courts for decades.
BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT includes interviews with acclaimed authors, legal scholars, and family members, who offer fresh insights into the life and extraordinary influence of the man who became known as “Mr. Civil Rights.”
The film will serve as the centerpiece of HBCU Week NOW 2025, a public media partnership that offers content about the history, legacy, cultural heritage, and degree programs offered by America’s HBCUs. A collection of original long-form and short films, live events, and other HBCU-themed programming is available on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube Channel @HBCUWeekNOW and its companion Instagram page and website (hbcuweeknow.com).
BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT will stream simultaneously with broadcast and be available on all station-branded PBS platforms including PBS.org, and the PBS App available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, and VIZIO. Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect is a production of the Aggrey Company and is presented by Maryland Public Television with an appropriation from MPT’s Center for Maryland History Films. Read more
