More than a Month

Inspired by the words and deeds of Black Americans whose contributions shaped American culture, members of our Black Lawyer Network reflect on what Black History Month means to them as individuals.

Jocelyn Cuttino

“We celebrate Black History Month not only to recognize and appreciate the greatness in our past, but to anticipate the greatness in our future. People of color continue to persevere through injustice and inequity, and we take this moment to remind ourselves of how far we’ve come—and how far we can go.”

Russell Franklin

“Black history is inseparable from American history. Accordingly, I think of Black History Month in a manner similar to an anniversary—an opportunity to meaningfully reflect on what always was, and what may have been overlooked, but with a renewed focus that may not exist every day.”

Shay Familoni

“Black History Month is an occasion to reflect on these powerful words from Gloria Jean Watkins, better known as 'bell hooks,' who recently departed this earth: 'What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe.' I encourage everyone to think about what they do on a daily basis to effect the change they want to see in the world.”

Malaika Lindo

“As we celebrate and acknowledge the vast contributions of Black Americans to the story that is American history, I am reminded of Maya Angelou’s timeless advice: 'The more you know about your history, the more liberated you are.'”