Stories

The Interviews (Fall 2023)

Part of the Ruth-Arlene Howe and Black History at Ï㽶Ðã Law project, these extended interviews were conducted in the fall of 2023 and chronicle the subjects' thoughts on Professor Howe's legacy, their own experiences as a Black law student and alum, and what the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and the Black Alumni Network (BAN) mean to them.Ìý

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Ruth-Arlene Howe '74

Walter Prince '74

Charles "Chuck" Walker '78

Leslie Harris '84

Danilo Avalon '95

Rosaline Valcimond '05

Arianne Waldron '14

Vannessa Lawrence '22

Berlindyne Elie '24

Regine Cooper '24

Oral Histories: Professor Emerita Ruth-Arlene Howe '74

These interviews were conducted in the September 2023 at Professor Howe's home in Utah. Librarians Laurel Davis and Avi Bauer asked Professor Howe about her life and career as well as the history of BLSA and BAN at Ï㽶Ðã Law.Ìý

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Part One:ÌýProfessor Howe discusses her early years through college, coming to Ï㽶Ðã Law, teaching social work at Simmons and joining the Ï㽶Ðã Law faculty, the founding of BLSA, theÌýThird World Law Journal, and the School under Dean John Garvey.

Part Two:ÌýProfessor Howe talks about her scholarship in family law and adoption, and the future of Black students at Ï㽶Ðã Law.

Part Three:ÌýProfessor Howe discusses her family connections, the founding of BAN, the decline in Black enrollment and the work with admissions to improve it, and the recruitment of Black faculty.

News and Features from Ï㽶Ðã Law Magazine

The alumni magazine of Boston College Law School,ÌýÏ㽶Ðã Law Magazine, began publication in 1992, and continues today. This collection gathers just some of the many articles and features about Black students, faculty, and alumni who have made Ï㽶Ðã Law what it is today.

Each of the below articles has been excerpted from the print edition of the magazine, which is available in full in the . Recent pieces are also available via the .

From the Archives: The Alledger

The Alledger was a Ï㽶Ðã Law student newspaper that ran from 1981 to the mid-1990s. Article topics varied from the serious to the satirical, and featured noteable law school news such as the arrival and departure of faculty members, profiles of candidates for leadership positions in student government, and previews of lectures given by outside speakers.

It was also an outlet for students to discuss topics that affected them personally, including the effects of racismÌýon Black students' experiences. The following stories, available in full in the , cover contemporary events, highlight programming for Black History Month and beyond, and express the opinions of Black students in their own voices.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Speaks at Ï㽶Ðã Law (March 1983)

Vol. 2, No. 9, pages 1 & 3. Written by Wilbur Edwards. Highlights programming held at Ï㽶Ðã Law for Black History Month, including a talk by Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Jones Incident Raises Racial Questions (Dec. 1984)

Vol. 4, No. 6, page 1. Written by Terry Vetter. Covers a forum held to discuss the recent arrest of BU student Harlan Jones at a Ï㽶Ðã event. Includes comments from Prof. Howe.

Spotlight on Guest Speaker Judge Nathaniel R. Jones (Feb. 1985)

Vol. 5, No. 3, pages 1 & 5. Written by D. Maria Watson. Outlines the career of Black History Month guest speaker Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, particularly his work on desegregation and affirmative action.

Why Black History is Important to You (Jan. 1986)

Vol. 6, No. 7, pages 1 & 7. Written by Lerone Bennett Jr., excerpted from Ebony magazine (Feb 1982). An essay on the vital role of Black history in the pursuit of Black liberation.

Hon. Parren Mitchell on the Role of Black Lawyers (March 1987)

Vol. 7, No. 10, page 4. Written by Marc Jefferson. Summarizes the talk given by the Black History Month guest speaker, Hon. Parren J. Mitchell, on the history and current state of Black laywership.

Black History Month Celebration Underway (Feb. 1988)

Vol. 8, No. 8, pages 1 & 4. Written by Melissa Clark and Greg Barksdale. Argues that Black History Month is a call to all to recognize the effects of racism everywhere in life.

The Honorable Barbara Dortch (Feb. 1989)

Vol. 9, No. 7, page 1. Written by Mike Klein. Profile of Judge Barbara Dortch, Ï㽶Ðã Law class of 1974, who became the first Black woman appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court.

A Tribute to Black Poets (Feb. 1989)

Vol. 9, No. 7, pages 4-5. Written by V. Hamilton, David Brian Williams, JEM, NCR, Steel Pulse, and Z. Marley. A collection of poems by Black poets in honor of Black History Month.

"My Brother Glenn, The Criminal" (Nov. 1989)

Vol. 10, No. 4, page 4. Written by Stephanie A. Jirard. A student response to racist comments heard in Torts class, breaking down how racism shapes claims of "reasonable belief" for self-defense.

BLSA Announces Annual Heritage Banquet (March 1991)

Vol. 11, No. 8, page 2. Written by Allison S. Cartwright. An invitation to the Ï㽶Ðã Law community to attend the Annual Heritage Banquet hosted by BLSA. The guest speaker at the banquet is Randall M. Robinson.

Why White Men Should Not Wear Black Face (April 1991)

Vol. 11, No. 9, page 5. Written by Celestine N. Brunson. Commentary from a student condemning the use of black face at the 1991 Dean's Ball.

Justice Thurgood Marshall: A Personal Look at a Powerful Figure (Feb. 1993)

Vol. 13, No. 7, pages 2 & 7 [mislabeled as continuing on pg. 6]. Written by Willard Dumas. An article discussing the life and mourning the death of Justice Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993).

MLK Day Has Vital Message for All (Jan. 1994)

Vol. 14, No. 5, page 2. Written by David E. Danner. Comment on the importance of Martin Luther King Jr., and his role as a "belated Founding Father" of American democracy.

Wilkerson Speaks at Barat (Sep. 1995)

Vol. 16, No. 2, pages 1 & 7. Written by Mike DiChiara. Summary of talk given by Ï㽶Ðã Law alumna Diane Wilkerson, the first Black State Senator in Massachusetts.

Pamela Smith at Ï㽶ÐãLS: 'So far, so good' (Sep. 1995)

Vol. 16, No. 2, page 2. Written by Brian E. Falvey. Interview with a new Black Ï㽶Ðã Law faculty member, Pamela Smith.

Ï㽶Ðã Law: ImpactÌýStudent Blog Posts

Ï㽶Ðã Law: ImpactÌýis, by its own description, ÌýCurrent Ï㽶Ðã Law students chronicle their experiences, daily lives, and the issues that matter to them. Collected here are just some of the posts by and for the Black Ï㽶Ðã LawÌýstudent community.

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