The civil rights movement in the United States utilized the courts as a key tool in fighting for equality and justice for Black Americans. One of the most significant legal victories for civil rights was the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. In this case, the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for Black and white students to be unconstitutional, thereby ending the practice of segregation in schools.

Additionally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major legislative victory that prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, education, and public accommodations. The act was heavily influenced by legal challenges and court rulings that highlighted the need for federal intervention to protect the civil rights of all Americans.

Throughout Black history, activists and organizations have used the courts to challenge discriminatory practices and policies, leading to groundbreaking legal precedents that have helped advance civil rights for Black Americans. From Thurgood Marshall's work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to the advocacy of civil rights lawyers during the Civil Rights Movement, the legal system has played a crucial role in the fight for racial equality and justice.