Stories
The Interviews (Fall 2023)
Part of the Ruth-Arlene Howe and Black History at BC 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.
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 BC Law.
Part One: Professor Howe discusses her early years through college, coming to BC Law, teaching social work at Simmons and joining the BC Law faculty, the founding of BLSA, the Third World Law Journal, and the School under Dean John Garvey.
Part Two: Professor Howe talks about her scholarship in family law and adoption, and the future of Black students at BC Law.
Part Three: Professor 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 BC Law Magazine
The alumni magazine of Boston College Law School, BC 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 BC 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 Law Library digital archive. Recent pieces are also available via the BC Law Magazine website.
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BAN Holds Weekend Celebration of First Decade
Spring 1995
The BC Law Black Alumni Network celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a weekend of events and programming. Includes career profiles of Ruby Wharton '69, Walter Prince '74, Judge Susan Winfield '76, Jose Allen '76, Steven Wright '81 and Rita Brackeen '83.
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BAN Holds Capitol Hill Affirmative Action Program
Spring 1996
BAN held a conference titled "Report Card on Affirmative Action" on Capitol Hill in March 1996. Includes a position statement on affirmative action written and endorced by BAN members.
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Changing Colors
Spring 1997
Charles "Chuck" Walker Jr. 78, Chairman of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, was interviewed by John Koch of The Boston Globe.
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Lessons from the Inner City
Summer 2005
Chiquisha "Keisha" Robinson '05 joined the ranks of the prestigious Public Defender Service (PDS) in Washington, DC.
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Where There's a Will, is There a Way?
Winter 2006
Walter Prince '74, Garland Stillwell '88, Steven Wright '81 and others reflect on the difficulties faced by lawyers of color at law firms. In addition, the BAN conference "Forty Acres and a Mule" highlighted the risks of losing affirmative action.
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Home Movie
Summer 2010
Chico David Colvard ’01 is an independent filmmaker whose film Family Affair premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in January and was acquired by the Oprah Winfrey Network.
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Introducing the New Dean
Summer 2011
Vincent D. Rougeau, former Notre Dame professor, became the eleventh dean of Boston College Law School in 2011.
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Color Still Matters
Summer 2012
BC Law Dean Vincent Rougeau and Elaine Pinderhughes, professor emerita of the BC Graduate School of Social Work, discuss the evolution of diversity in their professional and personal lives.
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"God Bless the Child That's Got Her Own"
Summer 2015
Taisha Sturdivant '16 faced many challenges growing up in Boston, including poverty and the death of her mother, but nonetheless came to thrive as a student at BC Law.
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For the Record
Winter 2019
Randall McMillan ’95 withstood a bleak Brooklyn upbringing animated by music to emerge in the rarefied world of Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Eminem, and Mariah Carey as a fair-minded negotiator and influencer in the entertainment industry.
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SEC Taps Jones for Directorship
Summer 2021
Professor Renee Jones, a respected scholar on matters of corporate governance, ethics, and regulation, began work in 2021 as the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance.
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A Walk on the Tall Side
Summer 2022
Damon Hart '99, at 6 feet, 5 inches, stands out both for his height and his successful career in law and business.
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From the Archives: The Alledger
The Alledger was a BC 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 racism on Black students' experiences. The following stories, available in full in the Law Library digital archives, 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 BC Law (March 1983)
Vol. 2, No. 9, pages 1 & 3. Written by Wilbur Edwards. Highlights programming held at BC 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 BC 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, BC 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 BC 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 BC Law alumna Diane Wilkerson, the first Black State Senator in Massachusetts.
Pamela Smith at BCLS: 'So far, so good' (Sep. 1995)
Vol. 16, No. 2, page 2. Written by Brian E. Falvey. Interview with a new Black BC Law faculty member, Pamela Smith.
BC Law: Impact Student Blog Posts
BC Law: Impact is, by its own description, "a blog by students, for students." Current BC 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 BC Law student community.