THURGOOD MARSHALL

by Dr. Lewis Fendersen ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1969

Thurgood Marshall is very much alive, on the bench and in the book, which makes this a particularly welcome addition to the growing corpus of black biography. Obviously cued by Marshall, his friends and his family, Dr. Fendersen begins with a bang--young Thurgood's punch at a white man who insulted him; then, after filling in the background (a keen-witted father who followed court cases, a grandfather who named himself Thorough Good to meet the Union Army's request for more than one name), he recounts salient events with wit, verve and considerable relish. Also with some bright attributions: at Lincoln University, integrating the local movie, the boys are being Robin Hood's band until--""Can it--here comes the Sheriff of Nottingham."" With Howard Law School, the central theme emerges: Marshall helps prepare a brief to gain admission of a Negro to North Carolina Law School; proving that equal facilities do not exist is the first step toward proving that separate is not equal. With a reprise of civil rights history, the author follows Marshall through key cases so that the final Supreme Court decision is simply a culmination. Alongside is a shocker, ""the pan-of-bones case"" involving a Negro convicted on the basis of confessions wrung by torture (""W. D. Lyons remains in jail to this day""). On the whole, reflecting Marshall, the tone is one of vigilant optimism. The book has bounce, integrity, insight--it's refreshing biography never mind its value as a tonic.

Pub Date: April 1, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION