One key figure in Black history on the U.S. Supreme Court is Thurgood Marshall. He was the first African American to serve on the Court, appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Marshall was a leading civil rights lawyer before becoming a Supreme Court Justice, known for his work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he successfully argued many cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of public schools.

During his tenure on the Supreme Court, Marshall was a strong advocate for civil rights and individual liberties. He wrote several notable dissenting opinions that challenged the Court's majority decisions on issues such as affirmative action, criminal justice, and voting rights. Marshall served on the Court until 1991 and left a lasting legacy as a champion for equality and justice for all Americans.