Black History: Explanation of Answers 1. Constance Baker Motley was the first African-American woman appointed to the federal bench in 1966. She was also the first African-American female senator in New York state; in 1986, she was appointed senior judge for the Southern District of New York, the largest federal trial court in the country. More about Constance Baker Motley 2. Which of these cases granted African-Americans the right to study at the University of Maryland's law school (in 1936)? Pearson v. Murray. Donald Murray, represented by Thurgood Marshall, become the first African-American admitted to the University of Maryland Law School. The case was part of a campaign led by Charles Hamilton Houston to guarantee the rights of African Americans to attend state-supported graduate and professional schools alongside white students. 3. Which of these cases led to integration in public schools? Brown v. Board of Education. In Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), the Court found that "separate but equal" is "inherently unequal." This decision began the process of ending segregation in many spheres, including universities, public buses, public parks and libraries, etc. Thurgood Marshall was the lead counsel for the NAACP in this case. 4. Who was the first African-American Supreme Court justice? Thurgood Marshall. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Johnson in 1967. More about Thurgood Marshall 4. Which amendment ended slavery? The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in 1865. The Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 added specific protections against actions by state governments. "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Resources Take the Brown v. Board of Education quiz! Black History Month Features contain profiles of famous African-Americans Talking points and speech ideas on Equality/Equal Protection (refers to related cases and amendments) Quizzes Home | Back to Black History Quiz