Tureaud was a civil rights lawyer who fought for equal access to education for African Americans in the southern United States during the mid-20th century. He saw education as a key to unlocking racial equality, and he argued that segregation was unconstitutional and that all children, regardless of race, deserved equal access to quality education. He believed that education was the most powerful tool for achieving racial justice and helping African Americans overcome the long-standing oppression they had experienced. He also argued that education was essential for allowing African Americans to participate fully in society and to reach their full potential.