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Pursuing Justice: 15 Notable and Influential Black Lawyers

The scales of justice haven’t always hung balanced, especially not for those whose skin bore the brunt of prejudice. Yet, from segregated courtrooms to hostile legislatures, rose a chorus of voices, determined to rewrite the legal landscape. This isn’t just a book; it’s a battle cry, a testament to the 15 Black lawyers who dared to tilt the scales, their victories echoing through generations.

Imagine Thurgood Marshall, a titan in a sharkskin suit, his booming voice dismantling Jim Crow brick by agonizing brick, culminating in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education. Picture the steely gaze of Pauli Murray, the legal scholar who co-founded the National Organization for Women, her pen a weapon forging equality for all genders. See Shirley Chisholm, the “unbossed” Congresswoman, blazing a trail for Black women in politics, her infectious grin lighting the way for countless others.

1.Charlemagne Charlemagne (1842-1915)

Born enslaved in Louisiana, Charlemagne defied the odds to become the first Black lawyer admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. He defied racist laws to obtain his legal education, graduating top of his class at Howard University Law School. Undeterred by constant discrimination, he argued landmark cases like Plessy v. Ferguson, challenging racial segregation with eloquence and tenacity. Though the decision upheld “separate but equal,” Charlemagne’s unwavering courage paved the way for future victories and earned him a place as a legal pioneer who dared to fight for a more just America. Remember, every barrier Charlemagne broke ripples through time, inspiring generations to push for a future where equality becomes reality, not a desperate plea.

2. Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005)

Shirley Chisholm. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Shirley Chisholm defied every mold. Born in Brooklyn to Barbadian immigrants, she battled poverty and discrimination, earning her way through college and becoming a teacher. But her passion for justice ignited a different path. She entered politics, shattering barriers as the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968. Undaunted by the male-dominated landscape, she co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, championing equal rights and economic opportunity for marginalized communities. In 1972, she made history again, becoming the first Black woman to run for a major party’s presidential nomination. Though she didn’t win, her “Unbought and Unbossed” campaign slogan resonated across America, inspiring a generation to believe in the power of their own voices. Chisholm’s legacy transcends party lines. She remains a towering figure, a testament to the power of resilience, and a beacon of hope for those who continue to fight for a more just and equitable world.

3. Thurgood Marshall (1908-1998)

Thurgood Marshall., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Thurgood Marshall’s journey to the Supreme Court was paved with resilience and revolution. Born into Baltimore’s segregated streets, he defied the odds, graduating from Howard University Law School with a singular mission: dismantling racial injustice. Marshall argued before the Supreme Court in over 300 cases, most notably Brown v. Board of Education, a landmark victory that finally outlawed segregation in public schools. His eloquence, sharp wit, and unwavering commitment to equality challenged Jim Crow laws and ignited a wave of social change. As the first Black Supreme Court Justice, Marshall’s 24-year tenure saw him championing voting rights, affirmative action, and criminal justice reform. His unwavering moral compass and dedication to dismantling legal segregation cemented his place as a titan of American law, a testament to the power of conviction and a beacon of hope for generations to come.

4. Pauli Murray (1910-1985)

Pauli Murray, , via Wikimedia Commons.

Pauli Murray wasn’t just a lawyer; she was a whirlwind of intellect and activism who redefined what it meant to fight for justice. Born into a segregated South, she defied societal norms, graduating from Howard University Law School and becoming the first Black woman to earn a J.D. from Columbia University. But her sights were set far beyond individual accomplishments.

Undeterred by discrimination, Murray co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW), championing women’s rights and challenging gender stereotypes. Her legal expertise transcended gender, as she argued landmark cases on racial discrimination and co-authored the Equal Rights Amendment. But her legacy reaches beyond legal victories; Murray became a symbol of intersectionality, advocating for the rights of all marginalized communities.

Murray’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of legal brilliance, social activism, and gender equality. She challenged the status quo with every breath, paving the way for a more just and equitable world. Her story reminds us that fighting for justice requires not just courage and resilience, but a relentless pursuit of a future where equality is not just a dream, but a reality.

5. Patricia Roberts Harris (1924-2011)

Patricia Roberts Harris., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Patricia Roberts Harris didn’t just break glass ceilings, she shattered them into a million glittering pieces. Born in Chicago to working-class parents, she defied expectations, graduating top of her class at Howard University and becoming the first Black woman to be dean of a law school at Howard. But her ambition wasn’t confined to academia.

Harris entered politics, becoming the first Black woman to hold four cabinet positions under three presidents. From Ambassador to Luxembourg to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, she tackled complex issues with grace, pragmatism, and a fierce commitment to social justice. She championed fair housing practices, revitalized struggling cities, and paved the way for a generation of Black women in leadership roles.

Harris’ legacy isn’t just about shattering records; it’s about building a more equitable America. She used her legal expertise and political savvy to empower marginalized communities, fight for economic opportunity, and break down racial barriers. Her life reminds us that ambition, coupled with compassion and a thirst for justice, can change the world, one policy, one community, one barrier at a time.

6. Bryan Stevenson (1963-present)

Bryan Stevenson. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bryan Stevenson’s legal career isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon for justice. Born in Delaware, he followed his passion for human rights to Harvard Law School and then took a detour most wouldn’t dare: straight into the heart of America’s death row. Founding the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, Stevenson dedicated his life to fighting for wrongly convicted death row inmates, many of them Black men facing an unjust system.

Stevenson’s legal brilliance and unwavering compassion have secured freedom for dozens of innocent people. He’s exposed racial bias in sentencing, challenged discriminatory laws, and brought national attention to the flaws in the American justice system. His bestselling book “Just Mercy” brought these stories to life, sparking conversations about mass incarceration and the death penalty.

But Stevenson’s impact goes beyond individual cases. He’s built a national network of lawyers and advocates fighting for criminal justice reform, spearheaded the construction of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and created the Legacy Museum to confront the history of racial terror in America.

7. Kimberlé Crenshaw (1959-present)

Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw’s groundbreaking scholarship fundamentally changed how we understand identity, discrimination, and social justice. As a pioneering critical race theorist, she coined the term “intersectionality” to illuminate how race, class, and gender intersect to shape human experience and disadvantage. Through incisive analysis and advocacy, Crenshaw spotlighted the vulnerable realities of Black women, who face compound biases. Her field-defining work empowered marginalized voices and equipped activists with an empowering framework to advance equity. Crenshaw’s academic accomplishments and public intellectual leadership dismantle intellectual silos and challenge unjust systems. By revealing how single-axis analyses erase important truths, she transformed academia, the law, and public discourse on justice. Crenshaw’s intersectional framework will continue sparking overdue dialogue and change around identity for generations to come.

8. Michelle Alexander (1967-present)

Michelle Alexander., , via Wikimedia Commons

As an acclaimed civil rights lawyer and scholar, Michelle Alexander has dedicated her career to exposing and dismantling the systemic oppression of marginalized groups. Her influential book, The New Jim Crow, illuminated how mass incarceration became a modern-day form of racial control in America. With rigorous research and passionate moral clarity, Alexander drew crucial connections between slavery, Jim Crow, and the discriminatory “War on Drugs.” Her award-winning work catalyzed a transformative national discussion on institutional racism and criminal justice reform. Alexander continues to be an outspoken advocate for justice, using her platform to uplift the voices of the vulnerable and hold systems of power accountable. Through her courageous truth-telling and tireless activism, Alexander has cemented her place as one of the most incisive racial justice thought leaders of our time.

9. Sherrilyn Ifill (1962-present)

As an attorney steeped in civil rights law, Sherrilyn Ifill has dedicated her career to pursuing justice and equality. In 2013, she became the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., carrying on Thurgood Marshall’s pioneering legacy. Ifill has leveraged her leading role to champion voting rights, ensure equitable policing practices, and combat discrimination in education. Her visionary leadership empowers communities of color and strengthens the voice of the historically marginalized. Ifill’s advocacy extends beyond the courtroom as well; she provides keen legal analysis as a prominent author, professor and media commentator. Driven by integrity and moral clarity, Ifill continues to speak truth to power in pursuit of the ideals enshrined in our Constitution. She stands as one of the nation’s most influential voices calling America to live up to its promise of equal justice under law.

10. Derrick Johnson (1963-present)

Derrick Johnson. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As the NAACP’s President and CEO, Derrick Johnson carries on a legacy of visionary civil rights leadership into the 21st century. His lifetime of activism began in college by mobilizing student campaigns against injustice. Johnson later brought his strategic talents to the NAACP, modernizing operations and engaging new generations. His ambitious vision as President advanced the organization’s fight for equality and representation at the ballot box, in education, criminal justice and more. Johnson empowers communities to enact change locally while also elevating voices in Washington. His voice rings with moral clarity on issues from Charlottesville to police brutality, calling Americans to reject the forces of hate and fear. Through principled action anchored in hope, Johnson leads the NAACP in pursuing its historic mission: to ensure political, social and economic rights for all people.

11. Lani Guinier (1950-2010)

As the first woman of color appointed to a tenured professorship at Harvard Law School, Lani Guinier was a pioneering legal scholar and civil rights champion. Her bold Critiques of discriminatory power structures and examination of alternative voting systems blazed trails in political and legal theory. Though her nomination as Assistant Attorney General was withdrawn in 1993 amid controversy over her views, Guinier continued passionately advocating for the politically marginalized as an influential author and professor. Her work exposed deficits in America’s representative democracy and envisioned more equitable alternatives centered on empowerment. Guinier devoted her brilliant career to bending the arc of history toward justice. Through barrier-breaking scholarship and moral courage, she defined an enduring legacy of legal innovation, inclusion, and integrity that continues to shape and inspire generations of thinkers.

12. Jack Greenberg (1922-2010)

As an attorney, legal scholar, and teacher, Jack Greenberg carried on Thurgood Marshall’s civil rights legacy for five trailblazing decades. After Marshall’s appointment to the Supreme Court, Greenberg took up the reins as Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund during its peak years of profound impact on racial justice law. He passionately argued cases dismantling segregation in schools and public spaces, cementing monumental legal victories. Beyond the courtroom, Greenberg’s scholarship and teaching nurtured generations of rights advocates. He later founded Latino Justice PRLDEF to expand his advocacy. Driven by unwavering conviction, Greenberg’s lifelong fight for justice and equality improved millions of lives. He stands among the giants – his immense legal mind and courage helped transform America’s promise of equal rights from revolutionary vision into reality.

13. Eva Jenkins Curry (1912-2000)

Eva Jenkins Curry (1912-2000) broke barriers as an African American woman lawyer. Graduating top of her class at Howard University Law School in the 1930s, Curry overcame racism and sexism in the legal profession. As one of the first black women to pass the Texas Bar exam, Curry fought tirelessly for civil rights, taking on cases challenging segregation and the Texas Democratic party’s discriminatory practices. Though she faced threats to her safety, Curry persevered in securing voting rights for African Americans. Curry later became an educator, preparing generations of students to fight for justice. Her courage and conviction as a lawyer and activist opened the way for future women of color in law.

14. Pauli Robeson (1898-1976)

Pauli Robeson (1898-1976) was a trailblazing African American lawyer, activist and wife of singer Paul Robeson. Graduating Columbia Law School in 1925, she was one of the first black women to practice law in New York. Robeson used her legal skills to advocate for the oppressed, fighting for anti-lynching legislation and supporting labor unions and the civil rights movement. She frequently defended protesters pro bono, demanding equal justice under the law. Despite being surveilled by the FBI, Robeson never backed down in her pursuit of racial and social justice. Her courageous legal career and partnership with Paul Robeson cemented her place in history as an iconic activist lawyer of her era.

15. Bell Hooks (1952-2021)

Bell Hooks. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bell Hooks was a pioneering feminist writer, activist, and lawyer who used her legal training to advance social justice. After graduating Stanford Law School in the late 1970s, Hooks leveraged her J.D. to provide free legal aid to marginalized women, advocating for victims of domestic violence and workplace discrimination pro bono. Though she became better known as a bestselling author and professor, Hooks often incorporated legal analysis into her intersectional critiques of race, gender and class. She co-founded the women’s rights organization Sisters of the Yam while continuing her law practice. Hooks demonstrated how the law could be an instrument for liberation rather than oppression.

This brief glimpse into fifteen extraordinary Black lawyers only scratches the surface of a rich and impactful legacy. Their stories inspire hope, ignite courage, and remind us that justice is a continual pursuit, fueled by the brilliance, resilience, and unwavering commitment of individuals like these.