US Issues Stamp Honoring Nation's First Black 1)Supreme Cour

Broadcast: Jan 14, 2003

 

The U.S. Post Office Monday issued its first ²⁾commemorative stamp of the year, honoring Thurgood Marshall, the celebrated¹ civil rights lawyer and the nation's first African American Supreme² Court Justice who died 10 years ago.

As lead counsel for the National Association for the Advancement³ of Colored People, Thurgood Marshall conceived legal strategies that challenged racial discrimination in education, housing, electoral politics, and criminal justice. His most famous victory was the 1954 case, Brown v. Board of Education, which essentially⁴ led to the ³⁾desegregation of U.S. schools.

His former colleague, Judge John Walker, says it is impossible to overstate the impact of Thurgood Marshall's civil rights accomplishments⁵ on the United States.

"It was the most far-reaching social change this country has ever undergone, and this man was at the heart of it," he said. "Thurgood Marshall not only represented his people, but uplifted all Americans."

Judge Walker hopes the 37-cent stamp, 150 million of which have already been printed, will make Mr. Marshall's accomplishments known to an even larger audience.

As a Supreme Court Justice from 1967 until 1991, and as an Appeals Court Judge in New York State before that, Thurgood Marshall was known for his commitment to defending constitutional rights and affirmative action, as well as his opposition⁶ to the death penalty.

Vinnie Malloy of the U.S. Postal⁷ Service, who led the dedication⁸ ceremony, says the honor has special resonance⁹ for her as an African American.

"Thurgood Marshall had a lot to do with what the United States is today," she said. "In fact, when I reflect back over my life, if it wasn't for Thurgood Marshall, I probably wouldn't be where I am today."

Members of the Marshall family, including his wife and granddaughter, attended the dedication ceremony. His son, John Marshall, says seeing his father on a stamp is an important honor.

"It's very exciting, but at the same time, we're very proud," he said. "It's hard to believe he's been gone for 10 years. But it [the stamp] also serves as a reminder¹⁰ that there's a lot more work to be done. And I hope that's the message people will take when they see this stamp."

The stamp dedication comes in anticipation¹¹ of Black History Month, celebrated in February, and is the 26th edition in the Postal Service's Black Heritage Series. That series has already featured poet Langston Hughes, civil rights activist¹² Malcolm X, and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

For VOA of American, this is James Donahower in New York.

 

 

1)      Supreme Court Justice最高司法院

2)      commemorative[kE`memErEtIv]adj. 纪念的

3)      desegregation [9di:se^rI`^eIFEn]n. 废止种族歧视

 

 

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

8 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

9 resonance   

n.洪亮；共鸣；共振

参考例句：

• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments.一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。
• The areas under the two resonance envelopes are unequal.两个共振峰下面的面积是不相等的。

10 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

11 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。