JUNE 27, 1991
Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, announced his retirement from the high court. President George H.W. Bush appointed Clarence Thomas to take Marshall’s place.
Two years later, Marshall died and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of previous justices.
“I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust,” he said in an interview before his death. “We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”
The post On this day in 1991 appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Mississippi Today is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) news and media company with a forward-facing mission of civic engagement and public dialog through service journalism, live events and digital outreach. Our newsroom is dedicated to providing Mississippians with reporting that inspires active interest in their state and equips them to engage in community life. Mississippi Today’s news stories are republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Latest posts by Mississippi Today (see all)
- In trial of ex-wrestler, Mississippi’s former welfare director testifies about appeasing politicians, trying ‘my very best’ - February 23, 2026
- It’s early, yes, but Mississippi’s college baseball teams have started fast - February 23, 2026
- Mississippi House wants to increase public school oversight - February 23, 2026