Thurgood Marshall was an influential American lawyer and civil rights activist, born on July 2, 1908. He is best known for his role as the first African American Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 to 1991. Before his appointment, he successfully argued several landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which helped end racial segregation in public schools. Marshall was a key figure in the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and worked tirelessly to fight for equality and justice. His legal career and judicial philosophy emphasized the importance of civil rights and the protection of individual freedoms under the law.