As of 2012, two African American had served on the U.S. Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and took the oath of office on October 2, 1967. The second African American to serve on the Supreme Court as of 2012 was Clarence Thomas. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush and took his seat on the bench on October 23, 1991.
Thurgood Marshall had a distinguished career as a lawyer before joining the Supreme Court. He was a key figure in the legal battles against racial segregation, most notably as the lead attorney in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Clarence Thomas had a controversial confirmation process, with allegations of sexual harassment raised during Senate hearings. Despite the controversy, he was confirmed and has been a consistent conservative voice on the Court.
These two justices, Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, have played significant roles in shaping legal precedent and influencing the direction of the Supreme Court. Their appointments mark important milestones in the ongoing struggle for diversity and representation within the highest echelons of the U.S. judicial system.