About the Film
BECOMING THURGOOD: AMERICA’S SOCIAL ARCHITECT explores the life and legacy of the nation’s first African American Supreme Court justice. The film follows Justice Marshall’s journey from his birth in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908 through his years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law, and his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights and dismantling school segregation. Marshall won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which invalidated the “separate but equal” doctrine and ended racial segregation in public schools. In 1967, Marshall became the first African American appointed to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Filmmakers
Stanley Nelson
Stanley Nelson (Executive Producer) is today’s leading documentarian of the African American experience. His films combine compelling narratives with rich historical detail to shine new light on the under-explored American past. Awards received over the course of his career include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, five Primetime Emmy® Awards, and lifetime achievement awards from the Emmys and IDA. In 2013, Nelson received the National Medal in the Humanities from President Obama. In 2019, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool was nominated by the Grammys for Best Music Film and won two Emmy® Awards at the 42nd Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
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Travis Mitchell
Travis Mitchell (Executive Producer) is the senior vice president and chief content officer for Maryland Public Television. He joined MPT in 2020 to oversee all content created, acquired, and aired on the statewide public television network's TV channels and digital properties. Under Mitchell’s leadership, MPT has been nominated for 174 Emmy® Awards and has earned 56 Emmys from The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
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Alexis Aggrey
Alexis Aggrey (Director/Producer) is a director, producer and founder of The Aggrey Company, a boutique production house based in Washington, DC. With over 20 years of experience across public television, museums, and live events, she specializes in vérité documentaries and community-centered storytelling that elevate underrepresented voices. Her award-winning work includes the Emmy® Award-winning Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake and the Peabody Award-winning 180 Days series, which premiered nationally on PBS.
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Education Advisors
Kelley Brown
History & Government Teacher
Easthampton High School
Easthampton Public Schools (MA)
Kate Ehrlich
Social Studies Teacher
Oakdale High School,
Frederick County Public Schools (MD)
Karla McKanders
Director, Thurgood Marshall Institute
Legal Defense Fund
Tracy Oliver-Gary
Supervisor, Pre-K-12 Social Studies
Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)
Cathy Ruffing
Senior Director, Teacher
Professional Development & Curriculum
Street Law, Inc.
Sidney Thomas
Educational Associate, Science and Social Studies
Holabird Academy #229
Baltimore City Public Schools (MD)
George Toepfer
Former Supervisor of Social Studies
Harford County Public Schools (MD)
Sarah Westbrook
Director of Professional Learning
The Right Question Institute
About MPT
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member offering entertaining and educational content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices via its
and the free
.
A state agency operating under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, MPT also produces local, regional, and national programming and frequently earns regional Emmy® awards for its work. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through its
and
, MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources covering a wide range of topics. More information is available at
.