How does the work and philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King impact your work?
Dr. King, has definitely been influential in my life and in my walk as an activist and organizer. I think about the times where I get upset when something happens and I do my best to try to strike a balance.
I really love the example that Dr. King set of taking time to be still before God. A lot of times he used the power of his pen. Whether it was his 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” or the speeches that he wrote, he translated the power of his pen through the power of his voice.
What would you say to a young person contemplating why a black lawyer is important to Black lives?
That’s the kind of conversation that I have with some of the young folks who participate in the movement. Some of them want to become lawyers. They asked me about my experience of being a lawyer on the front lines and what steps would they need to take, if they are interested in following a similar path. I always encourage them to get the best grades that they can, read as much as they can, and really take writing and research seriously. They can cultivate their strength as a good writer and a good researcher, which will serve them well.
