PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Realizing the Dream: Equality for All
By Lynn M. Roberson
Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP
T
he Atlanta Lawyer this month describes our upcoming
Law Day plans. This year, among our usual community
focused activities, we are joining with the National
Center for Civil and Human Rights, the State Bar, and several
other local bars to present an afternoon and evening event
on April 22, 2013, highlighting issues of civil rights history
and current issues. This program is particularly poignant for
Atlanta, in many ways the geographic and intellectual center
for civil rights progress in America.
I remember going into my daughter’s
high school several years ago for a
parent teacher conference and seeing her
American History syllabus. Half of what she
was going to be taught over that year was
my life’s experience! Civil rights, women’s
rights, Vietnam, Watergate, the Kennedy
and King assasinations, etc. Really made
me feel old! As we review our progress
and lack of progress toward achieving
equal opportunity for all our citizens, let us
refocus our efforts at continuing forward
progress.
I recall as a child spending a few years in
beautiful Hawaii (before it was a state!) among an incredibly
diverse and colorful citizenry, which appeared to me at that
time to be content and friendly. Much of that may have
been that I was oblivious to the daily news reports as I am
sure there were issues then of resentment among the native
peoples and the Caucasian invasion and take over. But the
people seemed generally happy and all lived together in
peace. Perhaps such amity is easier to achieve when one
lives in paradise.
I then recall living in Maryland and attending a middle school
with a significant number of African American students. One
of the outstanding students was a young man who was
extremely gregarious and very popular. He became our
class president in eighth grade. At the end of the year, the
class planned a year end beach party at a private beach club
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THE ATLANTA LAWYER
April 2013
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outside Annapolis, Maryland, rented buses and headed to
the shore and the sunshine. I was confused when the buses
were stopped at the gate for a time while the chaperones
negotiated with the folks at the club to allow our admittance.
Apparently no one had realized it was still an all white club
and they did not want to allow us in because our class
president was African American and was among the group
of partygoers. Luckily, since our group had reserved the club
for the day, they allowed us all in and great
fun was had by all, but the event has stayed
with me all these years. How unfair it was
that the most popular boy in the class was
initially unwelcome at the beach!
I remember watching the riots and the
marches on the evening news with my
family. I watched the water hoses, the
dogs, and the beatings. I could not
understand how our citizens could treat
each other that way for no reason other
than the color of their skin. I mourned with
many people when President Kennedy was
murdered, and again when Martin Luther
King, Jr. was martyred, and yet again when
Robert Kennedy was shot and killed before
our eyes. At times it seemed the whole world was surely
going to come to an insane end. But somehow, we got
through it all and law and order took hold again.
I was impressed with how the lawyers and judges were
key to achieving the promise of full civil rights assured by
the Constitution. What incredible courage many of them
showed in defending the civil rights workers and challenging
the segregated society. They risked their lives in the pursuit
of equality. Many continue that hard work today, usually
without the death threats, at least here in the United States.
But around the world lawyers and judges continue to fight
against tyranny in all its ugly forms. I continue to cheer for
them and thank them for their service in helping to make
ours a better world! ▪
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association