Celebrating Black History Month

Since 1976, every U.S. President has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. In 2019, the ABA is celebrating the work of Black/African-American legal trailblazers.

Celebrating Black Legal Trailblazers

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.

Gallery

See the ABA Journal's Gallery of 14 Black lawyers who made history

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The History of Black History Month

What is Black History Month?

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.

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The ABA Diversity Commission Honors Black Legal Professionals

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.

See the work of - The Diversity Commission

The ABA Commission on Women Recognizes Black Women

Learn more about the ways the Commission on Women in the Profession supports, listens to, and honors Women of Color in the legal profession. The annual Margaret Brent awards have honored Black female leaders, and the Commission on Women leads a Women of Color Research Initiative and toolkit.

See the work of - The Commission on Women

"Women Fulfilling the Dream": ABA Staff Diversity Council Honors Women Leaders during Black History Month

Hear Perspectives of Black Women Leaders & Lawyers

The ABA DC office recently hosted a panel for an event in honor of MLK and Black women leaders, activists, and lawyers of the past, present and future. The panel featured Paulette Brown, former ABA President, Dorcas Adekunle, Dep. Chief of Staff for Rep. Susan Wild, Charmaine Davis, VP of Marsh USA, and Riche Holmes Grant, attorney and entrepreneur, all speaking about "Women Fulfilling the Dream," of racial justice, inclusion, and empowerment. Click the arrow below to watch the video of the panel and hear a recitation and musical accompaniment of Maya Angelou's and Langston Hughes's poetry at the arrow below.

Access Racial Equity Tools

Advance your understanding of racial equity

The Urgency of Intersectionality

Law Professor Kimberle Crenshaw explains the meaning of intersectionality

Explore the National Museum of African-American History & Culture

The National Bar Association: We Are History

The National Bar Association highlights the contributions of Black lawyers to the field of law

The National Bar Association was founded in 1925 and is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. Watch the video on their work, titled: We Are History. (image caption: The National Bar Association Logo, with a torch and the year 1925).

Watch the Video - Here

Profiles from the ABA Journal

With JDs in hand, these 14 attorneys defied adversity to become pioneers in their fields. Check out the gallery from the ABA Journal to discover how each of these black lawyers, some involved as ABA leaders, made history.

See the ABA Journal's - Gallery