Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice?

Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. His appointment marked a significant milestone in American history, as it represented progress in the long struggle for civil rights and racial equality. Before his tenure on the Supreme Court, Marshall was a prominent civil rights lawyer and played a pivotal role in landmark cases, most notably Brown v. Board of Education, which helped dismantle racial segregation in public schools. His judicial philosophy emphasized the protection of individual rights and the importance of social justice, making his presence on the Supreme Court particularly meaningful during a time of systemic discrimination and civil rights activism.