The opening of a report, 176 Years Later: Real Life Stories of Black Male Lawyers in Corporate America, issued in October 2020 by 1844, a group of black male lawyers from leading law firms, in-house law departments and prominent government positions, begins with this: “Amidst the global public outcry in response to Mr. Floyd’s murder, the members of 1844 felt an obligation to share our individual and collective experiences with systemic racism. These experiences highlight the fact that, even as lawyers at premier law firms, Fortune 500 companies, and top government posts, our members are not exempt from – nor immune to – the prejudices and unfair treatment leveled against black people in this country.” Bloomberg recently interviewed four members of 1844, which is named for Macon Bolling Allen, the first black man admitted to practice in the U.S. You can find the piece here.
Published February 8, 2021.
