Day 22 Constance Baker Motley Breaker of Barriers in Law and Justice
Honoring the daughter of Nevisian immigrants whose groundbreaking legal career helped reshape American civil rights
A Daughter of the Caribbean, A Champion for Civil Rights
Born in 1921 in New Haven, Connecticut, Constance Baker Motley was the ninth of twelve children born to West Indian immigrants from the island of Nevis. Her parents instilled in her a deep respect for education, community service, and justice. These values would carry her through a historic career as a lawyer, judge, and political leader, breaking barriers for both women and people of color in American law.
As the first Black woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary, Motley’s career changed the face of the American legal system — and her Caribbean heritage was part of the foundation for her courage and perseverance.
Legal Mind Behind Landmark Cases
Working with Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Motley played a key role in over 200 civil rights cases. She wrote the legal briefs for Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional.
She also successfully argued nine out of ten cases before the Supreme Court, including James Meredith’s integration of the University of Mississippi. Her sharp intellect and unwavering commitment to justice helped tear down legal segregation across the South.
“Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.” — Constance Baker Motley
Firsts, But Not the Last
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, making her the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge. Prior to that, she was also the first Black woman elected to the New York State Senate and the first woman to serve as Manhattan Borough President.
Throughout her life, Motley remained committed to mentoring younger generations, and her story paved the way for countless others in law and public service — especially women of color.
Learn More About Constance Baker Motley
📚 Read:
– Equal Justice Under Law: An Autobiography by Constance Baker Motley
– Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality by Tomiko Brown-Nagin
🎧 Listen/Watch:
– PBS: Constance Baker Motley – Civil Rights Trailblazer
– Library of Congress Oral History Interview with Constance Baker Motley
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🌐 Explore:
– NAACP Legal Defense Fund
– Federal Judicial Center Biography of Constance Baker Motley
Today’s Reflection
Constance Baker Motley not only broke barriers — she built bridges. As a daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a fearless advocate in America’s most critical legal battles, her life is a testament to the power of law as a tool for liberation and the enduring legacy of the Caribbean American community in shaping justice.
Join us each day this month as we spotlight a different Caribbean American whose legacy calls us to reflect, learn, and celebrate. These stories are about community, culture, and the contributions that come from the rich intersections of heritage and homeland. Our weekly themes will help guide us through different aspects of Caribbean American influence—from activism to art, invention to entrepreneurship—creating a mosaic of identity that is as joyful as it is complex.
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