As Black History Month unfolds, it’s time to honor the legacy of Constance Baker Motley, a legal powerhouse whose name deserves to be etched in history alongside the civil rights icons she defended.
Known as the “Civil Rights Queen,” Motley played a pivotal role in dismantling segregation and advancing racial justice in America.
A protégé of Thurgood Marshall, Motley was a key strategist at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She drafted the original complaint for Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark case that ended school segregation in the United States.
Her courtroom brilliance was undeniable—she became the first Black woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning nine out of ten cases she presented.
Motley’s legal victories extended beyond the courtroom.
She successfully secured the release of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from prison, defended the Freedom Riders, and represented the Birmingham Children Marchers.
Her unwavering dedication to justice ultimately led to her historic appointment as the first Black female federal judge by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.
Despite relentless racism, Motley remained composed. In one telling moment, an opposing attorney refused to shake her hand at an airport. Her response? A cool and dignified acknowledgment: “Oh, you still don’t shake Black people’s hands? Very well then.”
With that, she boarded her flight, undeterred and unshaken.
Motley’s contributions to civil rights and the legal system are profound, yet her name remains lesser known.
As we celebrate Black History Month, her story is a testament to the power of resilience, intellect, and unyielding courage in the face of injustice.
