Black History Month at UC Law: Janelle Thompson
UC Law 3L discusses how Black History is American history
Janelle Thompson is a third-year law student at Cincinnati Law, a Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice Fellow, president of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), Secretary of the Student Bar Association, and a member of the Intellectual Property Club. Janelle was an intern at KMK Law in the summer of ‘21 and plans to join the firm following graduation. You can read more about Janelle and her story on UC Law's website.
Who is a historical and/or current-day figure who inspires you to commemorate Black History Month? Why do they inspire you?
There are many influential figures that inspire me to commemorate Black History Month. Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis, James Baldwin, Fannie Lou Hamer, MLK and many others give me strength to continue my educational and personal journey when I am lacking.
What does celebrating Black History Month mean to you, as an individual?
Celebrating Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of my ancestors to American society. The month is a reminder of where we have come from and hope for where we are going.
In what ways do you consider Black Achievement to be important in today's society?
Black Achievement is essential in today's society. Black Achievement is American achievement because we are forever tied to this country's history. While Black Americans have progressed far beyond what people thought was possible, there is still much more work to do. This work is important because Black Achievement combats the harmful stereotypes that still perpetuate through our community.
Why is celebrating Black History Month important at the College of Law?
Celebrating Black History Month is important at the College of Law because the Black students in our legal community need the representation. It lets us feel seen and supported by the greater legal community. Oftentimes, we feel silenced and unmotivated in law school. A month of celebration helps combat those feelings.
How do you see your study of law intersecting with Black History?
As a Black women in the legal field, studying law by itself is adding to Black History. Furthermore, I want to enter predominately non-Black spaces such as corporate and real estate law to provide representation to other Black law students. I want to show that we belong in all spaces, not only civil rights law and criminal defense.
What do want future generations to know about Black History and Black Achievements?
I want future generations to know about more than the basic, white-washed version of Black History that I was originally taught. I want generations to know that Black History is American history and deserves to be celebrated all year.
Discover what's Next at Cincinnati Law
Immerse yourself into a community dedicated to educate and inspire leaders to pursue justice and advance the role of law in society. Dive into unique opportunities to defend the wrongfully convicted, fight for human rights around the globe, combat the economic inequalities of today, and lift members of underserved communities.
Join the fight and apply to one of the Nation’s Top Social Justice Law Schools.
Featured Image: Asa Featherstone IV
Tags
Related Stories
UC Law symposium: Marking time - Art in the age of mass...
July 13, 2022
Event: July 15, 2022 12:00 PM
Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice at the University of Cincinnati College of Law is partnering with the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to put on a national symposium July 15-17 that looks at the impact of prison life through a focus on art and culture. Workshops for this symposium will be held in UC Lindner College of Business meeting rooms due to renovations involving the College of Law.
91.7 WVXU: New research fellow at UC will work to find policy...
July 12, 2022
WVXU spoke with UC College of Law Dean Verna Williams about a new research fellow focused on workforce housing. The Ian Bruce Eichner Research Fellowship in Workforce Housing Policy Fund was made possible by a $500,000 gift from Bruce Eichner, JD ’69.
New members appointed to UC Law Dean’s Advisory Board
July 6, 2022
The Honorable Kari Bloom ‘11, Lisa Kathumbi ‘06, Paula Boggs Muething ‘03, and Raul Rosado ‘88 have been appointed to the Dean’s Advisory Board, announced Verna Williams, dean and Nippert Professor of Law at the UC College of Law.