Constance Baker Motley was a prominent African American civil rights activist, lawyer, and judge. She was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, Connecticut. Motley was a trailblazer for women and African Americans in the legal field and played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

Motley began her legal career as a law clerk for Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She worked on many landmark civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case that outlawed segregation in public schools.

In 1964, Motley became the first African American woman to serve in the New York State Senate. She was also the first woman to serve as Manhattan Borough President. Motley was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, becoming the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge.

Throughout her career, Constance Baker Motley advocated for civil rights, equality, and justice for all. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and legal professionals. Motley passed away on September 28, 2005, but her contributions to the fight for equality and justice are remembered and celebrated to this day.