This year, the ABA is celebrating Black Legal Trailblazers, from the 1800s to the present. The individuals have not only been powerful examples of leadership in the legal profession, but have brought about historic change and progress to make the legal field more inclusive today, and more representative of our population as a whole.
Entities across the ABA have come together to provide resources focused on uplifting experience of Black attorneys and communities, and combating anti-Black racism. Pledge to join the Challenge, engaging with these resources every day for 21 days. The Syllabus launches on 2/8 and goes through the end of February.
As our society increasingly becomes aware of the historic inequities that continue to impact people of color generally and Black Americans in particular, the legal profession is likewise coming to terms with this reality.
View - SeriesThe National Bar Association cares deeply for our community. Our members have prepared informational videos so that our citizens have a better understanding of their rights. Our goal is for our family, friends, and neighbors to avoid unnecessary pitfalls and missteps, victimization due to misinformation, and to positively and effectively exercise their constitutional rights to improve their lives and our communities.
View - ResourcesIn this compelling series of webinars, titled "The Challenges that African Americans Face in the 21st Century", the Section takes a close look at the civil rights and social justice issues that African Americans are still facing 53 years after the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. The impressive panels and experts will examine a range of issues from environmental justice to economic equity, COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution to racial disparities and criminal justice.
According to the History Channel, Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Learn - MoreConducted by the ABA Commission on Women, this research and accompanying toolkits explore the unique experiences of women of color in the law, who face bias and other obstacles due to the intersectionality of their gender and race.
Learn more about ways the Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Profession supports lawyers of color. Many Black lawyers and legal professionals have been honored at the Spirit of Excellence Awards, have participated in the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, and have been highlighted in the Innovator Newsletter.
