Every one of my black students should read this and be encouraged to trace their ancestry and find the heroes in their past. White people with European ancestry have the privilege of feeling connected to cultural values that endure and character traits that they know proved beneficial to their ancestors and to society. That privilege has given me a subtle, invisible sense of grounding that has influenced and supported my own achievements. Everyone deserves that.
3
Howard U, has always been at the forefront of Law and Medicine. Nice to read an article were victim hood is not the main subject. Truth always wins..Inspirational to all of us. Great article
3
I really appreciate this story. Thank you NY Times for your diverse, honest, historical and engaging journalism! I am currently reading a wonderful book called The Island Beneath the Sea and am being thrown into the early days of slavery. It is appalling and heartbreaking, so to see these young black lawyers building their lives with pride and purpose, gives my heart a lift. Slavery was a horrible time in world history. I hope they bring justice, peace and equality to their callings.
4
I read this installment of this incredible series with the words of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' ringing in my mind and tears in my eyes. Their ancestors would be so very proud of these beautiful young people.
4
Yes ...it's possible! Born a slave - died a land owner. When he passed he had land , equipment and an extended family. They go on to be lawyers. In what other country in the world has this been possible? It never happens except in the US.
The other thing was ...he was never a victim. Those that work the land know some truths ..... no substitute for hard work, if you want to eat don't make excuses, planting crops is an investment in the future.
This is why ML King had Southern farmers - in overalls - around him when he protested in the South. He knew who he could count on.
1
"Officer was married to a woman named Emeline (her maiden name and origins are unknown)..."
Women's lives were doubly erased--by both patriarchy and slavery.
11
Being a lawyer is nothing to be proud of unless it's criminal law (both defense and prosecution). No more respectable than finance or tech.
Better to go into science or medicine. They require a lot more brains, yes, but you're helping people in medicine and moving civilization forward in science. I suspect some of these lawyers are intelligent enough for science or medicine.
How about Howard Medical School instead?
1
It has been said that women should write women's stories from within their experience and perspective rather than have it told for them by men. This is a great example of the same principle. It is always refreshing and inspiring to read a story about slavery from within the perspective of the ancestors of slaves. We all have so much to learn from our brothers and sisters who grew up carrying this legacy. Thank you!
5
The most humble humane empathetic historical memorable titans of the 20th Century aka Mahatma Gandhi, Charles Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo were all lawyers.
6
I am a HUSL grad currently working at a federal agency in Labor and Employee relations. Part of my great grandfather's legacy to us included 40 acres that was paid in reparations to him for his ancestors' enslavement. The beauty of HUSL is its focus on legacy and drive for momentum. Thanks for the read.
4
Thank you for this amazing photojournalism. I am so proud, inspired, and amazed after reading these stories. These graduates and their families have so much to proud of. These young people are so inspiring. I wish all of these phenomenal graduates the very best in their future endeavors.
9
Thank you Howard University. Thank you graduates, for all your hard work before and after graduation.
From the depth of the worst of America's past, you built the path upwards as you traveled it. In this current era, your value to the vision and work towards what America could be continues to be one of our most valuable resources.
14
This article was very enlightening and also inspiring. I am glad I took the time to read it. I honestly thought that Lincoln or Cheney were one of the first HBCUs. I didn't attend a HBCU for undergrad, but often wish I did. I am grateful for the opportunity to even receive an education, but I know that experience would have been different. I have to share this article with my friend who is about to take the LSAT. I am also looking into attending a HBCU to pursue my master's degree. Thank you for this article!
4
Excellent example of how to make data come alive. Now could you take another example, the young women who contributed to Howard University's historic role in the Suffrage Parade in 1913? The Deltas sorority split off from the Alphas, found some allies among the parade leaders, and took part as the only non-white unit in the parade. Who were these two-dozen Deltas? A century later, 5,000 Delta students and alumni marched to commemorate the parade, dwarfing all other groups remembering the occasion.
13
Extraordinary and inspiring series. The whole country should have access.
5
I'm looking forward to reading all of the articles in this important series, but how to I queue them up for later? I asked the Times, and was referred to the store from which I could purchase something, but I could never figure out what ... and it cost $11 to mail for a $6 item. I'm willing to buy something, but I need to know exactly what I'm buying. Thanks.
1
This collection of TRUTH about our history is a showstopper! Thank you so very much, thank you from the deepest place in my soul for getting this written and out! We must own it all! We must own it and make reparations!
4
This is beautiful and inspirational. These stories remind me so much of my own family’s journey for freedom and accomplishment. I’m so thankful to my ancestors for fighting with everything in them to make this country our home instead of our prison. Thank you NYT for featuring these stories during such an important milestone <3.
4
This photo essay is so inspirational! It depicts the true promise of America and makes me think that maybe we CAN live up to our ideals.
6
This was a wonderful piece. Knowing one's roots, and staying rooted in the strength of yourself allows one to get through anything. No one can knock you down when your roots are strong. Knowing your complete and true history is a great opportunity to "water" those roots and be fruitful for self and for community.
6
"We didn't just pop up in America...."
Well said!
6
The entire 1619 project is absolutely fabulous. Hats off for those who've begun it and to all who contribute. Thank you so very much.
Signed,
white 77 year old female born & raised in Atlanta
14
As an advocate for black lawyers, thank you so much for this project. This is the future of law.
9
Beautiful and moving. Bravo to these young people, and to the perseverance of their parents and ancestors! Please do more of these. Thank you NYT.
11
This is wonderful. More please. My only regret is that the white on black font hurt my eyes! Haha. Very important work, thank you NYT.
7
My Liberal friends are always so surprised I read the NYT. It is because of stories like this. Less bias reporting and more in-depth gut pieces about America’s history like this would be most welcomed. Outstanding writing and photography! Well done!
7
Thank you for this project! Quick question, in Elijah Porter’s story about his ancestors, is this calculation accurate? “The family lived on 265 acres valued at $750 ($14,665 in today’s dollars).”
2
So how many black lawyers were in the graduating class?
1
Well done. And the photographs are breath-taking.
8
In my life, I have had the privilege to meet a number of native Americans under a variety of circumstances, sometimes person to person, sometimes at celebrations, or pow-wows, and I believe that America is not a democracy until they say it is. Not before. Their country.
6
There have been and will be many articles on native Americans in America. THIS series is about black slavery from 1619 onward. It marks the 400 years of black slavery. What do you think of the ACTUAL article?
3
The strength and resilience of their ancestors is reflected in the powerful faces of the generations shown in the photos. What a great group of young people! I hope you pass the bar the first time and have meaningful and successful careers helping to improve our society for us all.
10
this is very moving and powerful. the 1619 project is extremely important and i am looking forward to more.
14
More, more, more like this please! This is so beautiful! And congrats to these graduates. Welcome to the practice!
17
First, congratulations to the new graduates, you are the future for a more just and equal USA. and thank you NY Times for presenting the faces of individual men and women whom society has tried to keep faceless these past 400 years.
19