Constance Baker Motley was a pioneering African American civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, and state senator. She was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, Connecticut. Motley was the first African American woman to serve in the New York State Senate, and she also became the first African American woman to be appointed as a federal judge.

She began her legal career as a law clerk for Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where she worked on several landmark civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education. Motley later went on to become the first female attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and successfully argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court.

In 1964, Motley was appointed as a federal judge for the Southern District of New York, becoming the first African American woman to serve in this role. Throughout her judicial career, she presided over many high-profile cases, including cases involving civil rights, discrimination, and women's rights.

Constance Baker Motley's contributions to the civil rights movement and the legal profession have left a lasting impact on American history. She was a trailblazer for African American women in law and politics and played a crucial role in advancing civil rights and justice for all.