Martin Luther King Jr. warned that that “our lives begin to end when we become silent about things that matter.”  Many of us in the legal profession have been silent about a current of “things that matter:” issues that adversely and disproportionately burden our non-white friends and colleagues. That must change.

MILS and NBLSA will co-host a series of monthly hour-long conversations where member of the legal community—from the newest law student or paralegal to the most senior practitioner or judge—can come together to break these silences and learn from each other. Beginning with the humble act of speaking together, we hope to lift the burdens that our non-white friends and colleagues have been bearing nearly entirely alone. We are calling this series the 2021 Anti-Racism Initiative, and we hope you join us for what are sure to be enlightening, as well as important, conversations.

Our first virtual conversation, held on February 11, featured the issue of natural hair in the workplace and was an unqualified success. We are proud to have been a part of this important discussion about a subtle but pervasive way that racism is experienced by so many, and the hope offered by introducing mindfulness as a tool to help in handling the effects of, and hopefully combatting, that racism.

We are equally excited about the MILS/NBLSA March conversation, tentatively entitled “Democracy Depends on Anti-Racism Work” and scheduled for March 25, 12-1 p.m. EST. Details about this event will be available once all plans are finalized, so stay tuned!