Constance Baker Motley

Hello! My name is Constance Baker Motley, but my friends called me Connie. I was born on September 14th, 1921, in a town called New Haven, Connecticut. My parents came from a warm, sunny island called Nevis. Even when I was a little girl, I loved reading books and learning. I saw that sometimes, things were not fair for everyone. I wanted to help make the world a kinder, fairer place for all my friends and neighbors.

When I grew up, I decided to become a lawyer. A lawyer is like a helper who understands the rules and can speak up for people. I went to a big school called Columbia University to learn all about it. Then, I worked with my friend, Thurgood Marshall. We worked at a special place that helped people, especially Black people, who were not treated fairly. I helped families so their children could go to good schools and play in any park they wanted. I even got to talk in the biggest courtroom in the country, the Supreme Court, and I won!

Because I worked so hard to make things fair, I was given a very important job. In 1966, I became a judge! I was the very first Black woman to become a federal judge. That meant I got to help make big decisions to keep things fair for lots of people. I loved my job. I lived to be 84 years old. Today, people remember me as someone who used her voice to stand up for what was right. I hope my story shows you that you can help make the world a better place, too!