Capstone Project: Post 5

June 27, 1991

Dear Journal,

    Here's to the retirement of the good work I have put forward to help the people of my community. From my first intention to change the world to now, I can confidently say there will be permanent change for our world.

    I cannot say retirement is my first choice, for "I was appointed to a life term, and I intend to serve it", but due to my ill health for the past few years, leaving work to prioritize my life seems to be the best course of action. My dear friend's, William J. Brennan Jr., retirement has also cause my feelings of loneliness and isolation, and I must admit there is no place for me here. Since the beginning, I have used my attorneyship to fight for the civil rights for the black community, particularly through the cases of racial segregation in public schools. After 24 years of service, It is time to retire my work to another, one who is just as willing as I was to protect the rights of the people. I retire my position of work to conservative Clarence Thomas, whom although I am very well aware of our contradicting opinions, I know he will use his line of power and authority to fight for our people, past, present, and future.

Sincerely,

    Thurgood Marshall

Capstone Project: Post 4

 August 11, 1965

Dear Journal,

    Today, I have been appointed Solicitor General by President Lyndon B. Johnson: the responsibility of arguing before the Supreme Court on behalf of the federal government now rests on my shoulders. With much reflection, I understand the requirement for me to properly fulfill this position, for this is the stepping stone for my eventual promotion to the Supreme Court. Not only do I recognize the significance and importance of this job, but also I see the depth from which this position comes from. I know that this position can change the future for my community and its following generations on a larger scale and with real effectiveness. The time is here for which I have the authority to convince minds that change is now. With this power, I vow to continue my search for racial equality to ensure that all black individuals experience the superiority and love for their presence and appreciation for the color of their skin: to feel seen and respected.

Sincerely,

    Thurgood Marshall

Capstone Project: Post 3

 May 17, 1954

Dear Journal,

    Chief Justice Earl Warren has declared that "in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal". Not only has that reassuring news been publicized, but also the Supreme Court's decision was unanimous. I am beyond relieved to see the Brown v. Board of Education case through, that this realization has been made by society and the long awaited revelation will come to be. When I read the verdict words, "I was so happy I was numb". The change for equality is necessary for this world: for people to finally witness the consequences of segregation that we, as the black community have experienced for generations upon generations. Finally, change will be made for the better of our world.

Sincerely,

    Thurgood Marshall

Capstone Project: Post 2

 1935

Dear Journal,

    Today marks the court case of my client, Donald Gaines Murray, fighting for his admittance to the University of Maryland. This day is one that I have been preparing for for two reasons in particular: one being my partial keenness to the University of Maryland, but my inability to attend because of my race. The second resides more on a larger scale: I have been developing my skills for a court case such as this. The fight for black excellence in the field of education still remains a big struggle for my community. If there is anything I can do to further assist this process, I will make sure it is done. I cannot continue to let these inferior thoughts of my race be reflected in the actions of others, particularly not in the education discipline. The intelligence of my community as a whole is not inferior of any one or any race and deserves the same amount of value and worth as the next person.

    As often as I think about my rejection to the University of Maryland, I knew one day my redemption would be brought forth. The consequence for their wrongful actions will be upheld by my lawful duties through the support and defense of Mr. Murray. I will make sure that although I could not attend, I will not let my spite sine through, but rather use that aggression to assist Mr. Murray in his success.

    My second reason stands at a much higher stance than any one of us could have imagined. The fight for racial equality is larger than no other, and I am ready to commit myself to it. I have all the necessary tools and reasonings to win this case. No step is too small and as insignificant as this one seems in comparison to the grander scheme of things, anything can help. I am excited to see what mine, and so many others' participation in this fight will do for our people, our future, our country. To mankind: may the future be brighter than the current day's sun.

Sincerely,

    Thurgood Marshall

Capstone Project: Post 1

1930

Dear Journal,

    Graduation day at Lincoln University. I can't describe what it felt like to walk across that stage in front of my peers, friends, and family and prove my worth through my hard-earned bachelor's degree in American literature and philosophy. I must admit, my mischievous personality took over me at the beginning, but I would have to say my good grades brought me back to the proper side of the tracks. My addition to the debate team led to a numerous amount of victories, which confidently reassured my value at this university. After all these years, I think I am interested to test my skills in law.

    I have had my eyes on the University of Maryland Law School, but being that is an all-white school, I am unable to attend. I find it rather outrageous that the color of my skin set boundaries and limits on the range of opportunities presented to me and my community. How, in all the years of existence did we, as a societal unit, end up in the midst of racial segregation? The thought that there is a superior race, community, being in the world? I will be the end to this madness, this ridiculousness that has infected our society for generations. The poison we chose to consume only makes us more weak, and without the strength of our brothers and sisters, we cannot prosper.

Sincerely,

    Thurgood Marshall

Part 4: Assignment 3

The process of educational progression in the United States was only existent because of the ever lasting economic competition between other countries. The realization of success from other countries posed as a harsh reality for politicians. They were concerned for the United States, but could not understand why the country was "losing" the economic battle. They searched and grasped at any solution to be the reason for the country's faults and weak links. Eventually, the answer came to be that the educational system was failing the people of the United States. Politicians noticed that other countries were producing and graduating with such "highly skilled workers", and their knowledge and success was assisting their respective country in their economic successes (Mondale 175). With that consideration in mind, politicians then analyzed the status of the educational system that existed at their time and expense in the United States: in America, "teachers talked most of the time, children listened, read the textbooks, and recited answers to the teachers" (Mondale 175). But how much of this information was actually being retained and used in the daily lives of these children? After much observation, politicians concluded that the United States was severely lacking in knowledge and educational standards and began to "[crack] down on students", making sure that "students were meeting these new standards" (Mondale 187). The politicians wanted to change the way the students were educated in order to take a lead in the competition of education. This period of time became known as the "learning crisis" because of "low standards, lack of purpose, and a failure to strive for excellence" (Mondale 184). Now, for the first time in the history of education, politicians noticed the numbers of students rise in attendance. The burst in students attending school in a quantitative manner conflicted with the lack of quality of the American education. Schools did not consider “more than 71 percent of seventeen-year-olds [graduating] from high school”, not to mention that many students attending to begin with. This created major chaos in the schools with one goal to resolve it: “‘restore quality to education by increasing competition and by strengthening parental choice and local control’” (Mondale 184). Now with students attending school and benefitting from the increase in educational quality, the economic reputation of the United States was comparable to other countries, displaying a fair competition in the battle of education.

Personally, I find it rather interesting to learn that because of the blame placed randomly on the educational system in the United States for the faults of our economic status, our educational quality had no choice but to better itself. If the blame had been put on any other functioning aspect of our country's society, that too would have benefited from the consequences, and would have therefore adjusted the economic status to thrive. I cannot say that our education in the United States is perfect where it is, but because of the learning crisis and economic boom, our country has improved significantly in education.

Part 3: Assignment 3

I can see how separate but equal would be a viable option in education in today's society. But not through the concept of racial inequality that has been previously exploited in our history. In today's terms, separate but equal could be displayed in the context of grade levels: each student, no matter their level, is still an equal participating member within their school (not one student is superior or better than the other). Keeping students separate within respective grade levels of education encourages confinement within curriculum based learning. Each level has objectives to which they should achieve before they can move onto the next level of education. However, I'm not sure separate but equal will never be true in the context of race and education. I cannot even say that together and equal will be true. Once the trend of segregation and superiority begins, the likelihood of releasing that fad is not an easy feat. Because our country has practiced white supremacy for centuries, the stigma of racial superiority still lingers in the society we live in, no matter how many years later. Although the challenge to defeat this stigma is very much possible, it would take the adaptation of the minds of billions of people, not of whom all think alike and/or are willing to do so. Even in the 1950's, parents "went to the school board, they talked to the school board, they did everything that they could in order to get [the school board] to understand", so that all children could be deserving of equal and honest education (Mondale 135). However, the school board responded with a severe lack of urgency and claimed that although schools were separate, they were treated equally. It was obvious to the public, then and now, that the separation between schools was not even close to similar, not to mention equal. The process of desegregation was in desperate need to make its appearance, not just for "facilities and resources and the constitutional and moral reasons", but for the learning equality as well (Mondale 137). The schools and resources provided for students of color were unkempt, affecting the quality of education given to them. Lack of supplies cannot excuse the lack of education, for it only hinders it more, creating an environment with inequality in communities.

I think the education of any and all mistakes, no matter what context they are made in, is the only way to truly understand and recover from that mistake. It takes learning of said mistake to recognize where one as an individual, or where a society as a community went wrong. It also takes the recognition of one wrong mistake and the realization that the recovery could be applicable in other contexts. Learning from one's mistake is one thing. Realizing that another could be prevented takes critical thinking. The remembrance of prior mistakes to avoid another worldly catastrophe can only benefit the future. Because this course provides education on past mistakes, in this case racial and educational inequalities, I think it could be beneficial to other members of our society to take this course.

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