Today in Black History: October 2

October 2, 2025

Johnnie Cochran, born October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, was a celebrated attorney known for defending O.J. Simpson and fighting for civil rights causes, including freeing wrongfully imprisoned Geronimo Pratt. Thurgood Marshall, a pioneering civil rights lawyer who won 29 of 32 Supreme Court cases including the landmark Brown v. Board of Education, became the first Black Supreme Court Justice on October 2, 1967.

Who is affected

African Americans whose civil rights were defended by Johnnie Cochran and Thurgood Marshall
Geronimo Pratt, who was freed after 27 years of wrongful imprisonment
Victims of injustice represented by The Cochran Firm
Students in public schools affected by the Brown v. Board of Education ruling
Audiences of August Wilson's plays documenting African-American experiences

What action is being taken

The Cochran Firm continues to advocate nationally for victims of injustice
Broadway honors August Wilson's legacy through the renamed August Wilson Theatre (formerly Virginia Theatre)

Why it matters

These three influential figures made significant contributions to civil rights, legal justice, and American culture
Cochran and Marshall used their legal expertise to challenge systemic injustice and fight for equal rights
Marshall's Supreme Court victories, especially Brown v. Board of Education, dismantled segregation and transformed American society
Wilson's American Century Cycle provides artistic documentation of African-American experiences throughout the 20th century
All three individuals broke barriers and achieved historic firsts in their respective fields

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint