When you hear the word Lawyer what do you incision? Do you see a Caucasian man with a nice suit and rough exterior? Do you see an African American Woman with a fitted blazer, dress pants, and red bottom heels? What do you see? These are questions that come into my thoughts because when I turn on my television I have seen many lawyers being represented as the first option. Why are there so few representations of successful African American Lawyers?
ABC’s ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ made a milestone in doing so by presenting Viola Davis as an extremely successful attorney and we need more roles like this. Our young black children need to be able to see that they too can become lawyers, politicians, judges, and be involved in law without having to be on the other side of it. Empowering our youth and showing them that they can make a change in the criminal justice system is essential to our future.
The anger towards the system can only be changed if we, African Americans, become those in position to make the changes. Let’s become those lawyers, politicians, judges, and law makers, and let’s make a change. Let us be in charge of our futures and make a change for the better.