The state and national flags surrounding Washington's Union Station may have given the most outward sign Monday that Thurgood Marshall helped change his times. Back in 1954, Marshall tried to catch a cab at Union Station for a quick ride to the Supreme Court. But he was refused a ride because he was black.
So Marshall instead ran to the court, which that day struck down the "separate but equal" doctrine in the Brown vs. Board of Education case, which Marshall had argued as a lawyer before the court that he later would join as a member.
On Monday after Marshall's death, the 50 state flags and three huge American flags surrounding Union Station - where Marshall earlier could not get a cab ride - all flew at half staff in his honor.