With classes back in session on January 16th, students gathered in Charney Hall to hear from guest speakers and fellow students on the history and importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hosted by the Center for Social Justice, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and the Social Justice Coalition, the event centered on the history of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the background of civil rights in America.
Austin Musson 1L began the event with a live rendition of the gospel song “His Eye is On the Sparrow.” Following the piece, Maya Peterson-Bailey 2L gave a brief preface to Martin Luther King Jr. and his history of fighting for civil rights. Matthew Essien 2L then introduced guest speakers Terrance J. Evans and Kamilah Moore.
Evans is a partner at Duane Morris LLP, where he serves as the Co-Chair of their Banking and Financial Services Practice. He is recognized as a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion training for California judges and in promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. He graduated from Loyola Law School with recognition and is now Vice Chair-Elect of the California Lawyers Association among other leadership roles.
Evans spoke on the history of civil rights in California and Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on fostering change. “For
the first time since 1964, no affirmative action policies as they previously existed create opportunities for all diverse individuals to pursue their dreams,” he notes. “Not everywhere in the country are folks free to talk about [Martin Luther King Jr.’s] legacy and his history; there are many people who celebrate his speeches, but don’t want to get into some of the hardship that got us to this point.” Evans also stressed Martin Luther King Jr.’s work in not just oratory, but also in legislation, pointing out his importance in eliminating California laws that barred non-whites from buying property, being buried in certain cemeteries, public transportation, equal pay for equal work, and other injustices.
Following Evans’ presentation, Kamilah Moore spoke on the importance of reparations. Moore is a reparatory justice scholar and attorney specializing in intellectual property and entertainment. She studied abroad in Amsterdam and contributed to human rights reports in Papua New Guinea exploring reparatory justice and human rights. She is currently the chair of the California Reparations Task Force, a position she has held since her appointment by Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon.
Moore spoke both on historical American exclusionary policies and on the need for modern-day reparations. Quoting the Reverand Doctor, she remarked: “A society that has done something special against the Negro for hundreds of years must now do something special for the Negro to rectify that history.” She also commented on the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s rhetoric. “His words emulate a collective responsibility to rectify these harms,” she underscored. “It is essential to reflect upon his powerful words that continue to resonate with us.”
A special thank you to Quincey Lowery 2L and Alana Watson 2L, Co-Presidents of the Black Law Students Association, and the staff of the Center for Social Justice for their effort in organizing this event for our students!
Watch Austin Musson’s live rendition of the gospel song “His Eye is On the Sparrow.”