Black History

With PBS LearningMedia Collection of Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, bring history and civics to life as students explore the legacy of Thurgood Marshall—visionary lawyer, civil rights leader, and the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Featuring powerful clips from Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, this collection invites students in Grades 5–12 to examine Marshall’s fight to expand constitutional rights, understand the personal and professional influence of his education at HBCUs, and study landmark cases that defined civil rights history. Known as America’s social architect, Thurgood Marshall reshaped democracy through law as he fought segregation, strengthened voting rights, and challenged injustices, proving one person can make a lasting difference.

Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect Watch Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect on-demand through February 17, 2026 below and then enjoy the on-demand version of the Community Discussion (below) from an event at WXXI Studios from September 4, 2025 screening event. *Becoming Thurgood* The film explores the legacy of Thurgood Marshall—Civil Rights litigator, Brown v. Board architect, and the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. A panel led by Kearstin Piper Brown with Dr. Shaun Nelms, Judge Melissa L. Barrett, and Spencer Ash, Esq., discussed the film’s themes and their relevance to justice and equity today.

Teacher Backgrounders

Listen or watch the Connections with Evan Dawson podcast talk show of The story of a Black lawyer who became America’s “social architect”: Thurgood Marshall

Watch the Community Discussion

About the film:
With a combination of oral history, animation, and evocative sound design, this new one-hour documentary explores the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the visionary lawyer and civil rights leader who became the first Black justice on the United States Supreme Court. Drawing from rare archival recordings, personal photographs, and exclusive interviews, the film traces Marshall’s journey from his birth in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908 to his formative years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights and dismantling segregation.

A discussion followed the screening of the film, moderated by Kearstin Piper Brown, American Soprano and WXXI Classical Host in addition to graduating from Spelman, an HBCU higher education institution and Northwestern University.

Panelists:

Dr. Shaun Nelms, vice president of community partnerships at the University of Rochester. He previously served as the superintendent as the Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) superintendent for East, to create a school reform model that can be replicated in urban settings throughout the U.S. Since 2018 he has served as the Professor (Clinical), William & Sheila Konar Director of the Center for Urban Education Success at the Warner School. In this role, Nelms leads the center’s efforts to support the success of K-12 urban schools both locally and nationally through a combination of research, relationship building, and a commitment to pursue and share best practices.

The Honorable Melissa L. Barrett, Supervising Judge of the Rochester City Trial Courts, most recently elected for a term of 2020-2029. Barrett earned a B.A. from the SUNY Albany in 1991. She then completed a J.D. at SUNY at Buffalo Law School in 1995. More info: 

Her memberships have included the Rochester Black Bar Association. she has also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town Perinton, and she has been involved in the Genesee Street Business Corridor, the Deaconess Ministry at the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, the United Way of Rochester African American Leadership Development Program and the Rochester Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Spencer Ash, ESQ, Senior Counsel at the Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow Spencer is an experienced litigation and transactional attorney with vast public and private sector experience. Spencer practices law in New York State Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. He has worked as counsel for several Fortune 100 companies and currently represents the City of Rochester, New York. Spencer is a Rochester native, a graduate of Pittsford Mendon High School, S.U.N.Y at Buffalo and Touro Law Center. He specializes in state, federal and appellate litigation, as well as contract law.

Spencer is also a passionate community advocate who has served on the Foundation Board of the Monroe County Bar Association, participated in Lawyers For Learning as both a mentor and a Vice-Chair, was President of the Rochester Black Bar Association in 2013 and has contributed to periodicals such as the Daily Record and Our Voice Magazine. He has been named an Emerging Bar Leader, an Emerging African American Leader, received the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Rochester Black Bar Association, is a graduate of Leadership Rochester, and a recipient of Dale Carnegie’s Outstanding Performance Award.

Photo: Thurgood Marshall leaves Federal Court in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 29, 1956.
Credit: Library of Congress

Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect airs Tuesday, September 9 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI & PBS apps. The program repeats Wednesday, September 10 at 2 a.m., Thursday, September 11 at 4 a.m., Saturday, September 13 at 3 p.m. , and Tuesday, September 16 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV. After the first airing. The documentary will be available on-demand through October 8th.

Promo for Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect

BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT is a production of Maryland Public Television, made possible with an appropriation from the State of Maryland for The Center for Maryland History Films. Funding for the film is also provided by Morgan State University, Theralogix, Sage Policy Group, and Allan and Shelley Holt (through the Hillside Foundation).

Watch the Full Program When Available:

Join WXXI for a FREE screening of this new film that explore the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall. It will be followed by a panel discussion. The screening is currently SOLD OUT!

Watch Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect premieres on WXXI-TV and WXXI Livestream on Tuesday, September 9 at 10 p.m.

“Becoming Thurgood” Screening & Panel Discussion
Thursday, September 4. Doors open at 6 p.m. Screening starts at 6:30 p.m.
WXXI Studio A
280 State Street, Rochester, NY

Parking available next door at High Falls Garage

This event is free, but reservations are required and is currently closed.
Event details.

About the film:
With a combination of oral history, animation, and evocative sound design, this new one-hour documentary explores the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the visionary lawyer and civil rights leader who became the first Black justice on the United States Supreme Court. Drawing from rare archival recordings, personal photographs, and exclusive interviews, the film traces Marshall’s journey from his birth in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908 to his formative years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights and dismantling segregation.

Promo for Becoming Thurgood: Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect premieres on WXXI-TV and WXXI Livestreams on Tuesday, September 9 at 10 p.m.

A discussion will follow the screening of the film, moderated by Kearstin Piper Brown, American Soprano and WXXI Classical Host in addition to graduating from Spelman, an HBCU higher education institution and Northwestern University.

Panelists:

Dr. Shaun Nelms, vice president of community partnerships at the University of Rochester. He previously served as the superintendent as the Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) superintendent for East, to create a school reform model that can be replicated in urban settings throughout the U.S. Since 2018 he has served as the Professor (Clinical), William & Sheila Konar Director of the Center for Urban Education Success at the Warner School. In this role, Nelms leads the center’s efforts to support the success of K-12 urban schools both locally and nationally through a combination of research, relationship building, and a commitment to pursue and share best practices.

The Honorable Melissa L. Barrett, Supervising Judge of the Rochester City Trial Courts, most recently elected for a term of 2020-2029. Barrett earned a B.A. from the SUNY Albany in 1991. She then completed a J.D. at SUNY at Buffalo Law School in 1995. More info: 

Her memberships have included the Rochester Black Bar Association. she has also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town Perinton, and she has been involved in the Genesee Street Business Corridor, the Deaconess Ministry at the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, the United Way of Rochester African American Leadership Development Program and the Rochester Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Spencer Ash, ESQ, Senior Counsel at the Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow Spencer is an experienced litigation and transactional attorney with vast public and private sector experience. Spencer practices law in New York State Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. He has worked as counsel for several Fortune 100 companies and currently represents the City of Rochester, New York. Spencer is a Rochester native, a graduate of Pittsford Mendon High School, S.U.N.Y at Buffalo and Touro Law Center. He specializes in state, federal and appellate litigation, as well as contract law.

Spencer is also a passionate community advocate who has served on the Foundation Board of the Monroe County Bar Association, participated in Lawyers For Learning as both a mentor and a Vice-Chair, was President of the Rochester Black Bar Association in 2013 and has contributed to periodicals such as the Daily Record and Our Voice Magazine. He has been named an Emerging Bar Leader, an Emerging African American Leader, received the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Rochester Black Bar Association, is a graduate of Leadership Rochester, and a recipient of Dale Carnegie’s Outstanding Performance Award.

Photo: Thurgood Marshall leaves Federal Court in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 29, 1956.
Credit: Library of Congress

National Partners:

BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT is a production of Maryland Public Television, made possible with an appropriation from the State of Maryland for The Center for Maryland History Films. Funding for the film is also provided by Morgan State University, Theralogix, Sage Policy Group, and Allan and Shelley Holt (through the Hillside Foundation).

Local Community Partners: