South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) and Allen University will host a free community screening of the new documentary Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect on Oct. 14, from 5 – 8 p.m. at Chappelle Auditorium, located in Chappelle Hall on the Allen University campus at 1530 Harden Street in Columbia.
The evening will feature a 30-minute preview of the one-hour documentary, which explores the life and legacy of Thurgood Marshall, the nation’s first African American U.S. Supreme Court justice. Known as “Mr. Civil Rights,” Marshall’s career with the NAACP and his 1967 appointment to the Supreme Court established him as one of the most influential figures in American legal and social history.
Following the screening, there will be a conversation between KJ Kearney, community organizer and founder of Black Food Fridays, and Dr. Bobby Donaldson, University of South Carolina professor and director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research. Their discussion will explore Marshall’s impact on American society, the continued fight for equality and the significance of civic engagement today. The program will conclude with an audience Q&A session, offering attendees an opportunity to join the dialogue.
KJ Kearney, a Charleston-based advocate and storyteller, has previously run for office, penned the proclamation establishing “Red Rice Day” in his city, and achieved viral fame on TikTok. As a community organizer for the Charleston Promise Neighborhood, Kearney works to bridge divides through empathy and shared understanding. He is also the founder of Black Food Fridays, a James Beard Award-nominated social media initiative encouraging support for Black-owned restaurants every Friday, and the host of Citizen Better, an eight-part SCETV digital series produced for PBS Digital Studios. Citizen Better explores offbeat ways young people are redefining civic engagement beyond the voting booth and highlights how individuals can contribute to their communities in meaningful, everyday ways.
Dr. Bobby Donaldson holds a Ph.D. in American History from Emory University and has served as a Thurgood Marshall Fellow at Dartmouth College and a Susan Biddle Ford Fellow at Harvard University’s W. E. B. Du Bois Institute. A scholar of southern history and African American life and culture, Dr. Donaldson’s research explores African American intellectual thought, education and religion. He has served as a consultant for museum exhibitions, oral history projects and documentary films, earning recognition for his teaching and public history work across South Carolina.
Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect traces Thurgood Marshall’s life and career from his birth in Baltimore in 1908, through his years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law, and on to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights. After launching his legal career in Baltimore in 1935, Marshall went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, most notably the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, which invalidated the “separate but equal” doctrine and ended racial segregation in public schools. In 1967, Marshall became the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement in 1991.
The Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect screening is supported by a grant from Maryland Public Television (MPT) through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s HBCU Week Initiative. The grant aims to highlight the contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and foster community engagement around educational storytelling and public media collaboration. Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect is a production of Maryland Public Television, made possible with an appropriation from the State of Maryland for The Center for Maryland History Films. Funding for the film is also provided by Morgan State University, Theralogix, Sage Policy Group, and Allan and Shelley Holt (through the Hillside Foundation).
Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect airs on ETV World on Nov. 29 at 10:30 p.m. Viewers are also able to watch on the SCETV app, the PBS app and at PBS.org.
For more information about Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect and to register for the free community screening, visit the Events page of the SCETV website.
QUOTES
“Thurgood Marshall’s story is one of resilience, vision and unwavering commitment to justice. Becoming Thurgood gives viewers an opportunity to better understand the scope of his influence and the ways his work continues to shape our nation. SCETV is proud to partner with Allen University to share this important film and foster community conversations that honor his legacy.” –SCETV President and CEO Adrienne Fairwell
“Hosting this screening where Justice Thurgood Marshall spoke in 1953 reminds us that South Carolina’s communities have long been at the heart of the struggle for fairness and freedom. Through the power of storytelling, Becoming Thurgood bridges history and the present—inviting audiences to reflect on Marshall’s enduring legacy and its influence on our collective pursuit of justice and understanding.” –SCETV Chief Learning Officer Dr. Salandra Bowman
“During a time of intense social and political division, Thurgood Marshall helped convince the Supreme Court to reinterpret the U.S. Constitution in a more inclusive and humane manner. We’re pleased to partner with SCETV to help raise awareness about Marshall’s life and the essential role that communities in South Carolina and schools like Allen have played, and can continue to play, in the nation’s efforts to live up to its founding ideals of liberty and justice for all.” –Allen University Dean of Arts and Humanities Dr. Kevin Trumpeter
FAST FACTS
- SCETV and Allen University will host a free community screening of the new documentary Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect.
- The event takes place on Oct. 14, from 5 – 8 p.m. at Chappelle Auditorium, located in Chappelle Hall on the Allen University campus located at 1530 Harden Street in Columbia.
- Following the screening, a panel discussion with distinguished guests will reflect on Marshall’s influence on American law, civil rights and society.
- For more information and to register for the free community screening, visit the Events page of the SCETV website.
About South Carolina ETV and Public Radio
South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) is the state's public educational broadcasting network. SCETV amplifies South Carolina voices, provides educational experiences and strengthens communities, while working toward creating a stronger, more connected and informed South Carolina. In addition to airing local programs, such as The Know Show, Making It Grow and This Week in South Carolina, SCETV also presents multiple programs to regional and national audiences, including Books By The River, After Action, Reconnecting Roots, Reel South, Downing of a Flag and Southern Songwriters with Patrick Davis.
Media Contact
Landon Masters
media@scetv.org
(803) 737-3337
