Produced by Producers: Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis, Editor: Deborah George, Host: Ray Suarez, Production assistance: Sasha Aslanian, Misha Quill, Ellen Guettler, Samantha Kennedy, Neil Tassoni, Mixing: Craig Thorson and Tom Mudge, Music: Sanford Moore, and Music: Sanford Moore Voice actors: T. Mychael Rambo and Mike Edgerly
Summary: In 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. But Marshall had already earned a place in history, as the leader of an extraordinary legal campaign against racial segregation in America.
A perfect program for Black History Month, this sound rich portrait details an important chapter of American history. Although the story is narrator driven, the extensive use of archival audio, readings from memoirs and court transcripts, music and lively experts combine to make this piece a great listen.
The three act structure is straightforward but in this case very effective. Marshall's early life, education and first important case in act one are followed by the shift in post-WWII America when black soldiers returned from battle and found segregation laws more intolerable than ever - leading to the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which Marshall argued before the Supreme Court. But most gripping is the third part which details the 1957 Little Rock high school violence which erupted when Federal troops were brought in to enforce desegregation. It's a chilling scene followed by Marshall at his most eloquent when he again appears before the Supreme Court.
Originally produced for the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, it's particularly timely this year - 50 years after the Little Rock incident. But all in all this is a timeless documentary which brings history alive and should be broadcast by all public radio stations. I would hope that the occasional judicious/historical use of the N-word, mostly in bits of archive audio, will not deter any broadcasters from airing this important work.
Comments for Thurgood Marshall: Before the Court
This piece belongs to the series "American RadioWorks: Black History"
Produced by Producers: Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis, Editor: Deborah George, Host: Ray Suarez, Production assistance: Sasha Aslanian, Misha Quill, Ellen Guettler, Samantha Kennedy, Neil Tassoni, Mixing: Craig Thorson and Tom Mudge, Music: Sanford Moore, and Music: Sanford Moore Voice actors: T. Mychael Rambo and Mike Edgerly
Other pieces by American Public Media
Rating Summary
1 comment
David Swatling
Posted on February 07, 2007 at 12:19 AM | Permalink
Review of Thurgood Marshall: Before the Court (American RadioWorks)
A perfect program for Black History Month, this sound rich portrait details an important chapter of American history. Although the story is narrator driven, the extensive use of archival audio, readings from memoirs and court transcripts, music and lively experts combine to make this piece a great listen.
The three act structure is straightforward but in this case very effective. Marshall's early life, education and first important case in act one are followed by the shift in post-WWII America when black soldiers returned from battle and found segregation laws more intolerable than ever - leading to the Brown vs. Board of Education decision which Marshall argued before the Supreme Court. But most gripping is the third part which details the 1957 Little Rock high school violence which erupted when Federal troops were brought in to enforce desegregation. It's a chilling scene followed by Marshall at his most eloquent when he again appears before the Supreme Court.
Originally produced for the 50th anniversary of the Brown decision, it's particularly timely this year - 50 years after the Little Rock incident. But all in all this is a timeless documentary which brings history alive and should be broadcast by all public radio stations. I would hope that the occasional judicious/historical use of the N-word, mostly in bits of archive audio, will not deter any broadcasters from airing this important work.