Celebrating Black History at Columbia Law

Explore a selection of original stories and podcasts featuring members of the Black community at Columbia Law.

In honor of Black History Month, Columbia Law has compiled a selection of stories highlighting some of the ways Black alumni, faculty, and students have helped transform the Law School, the legal field, and beyond. Below, learn about alumni like U.W. Clemon ’68, civil rights activist, state senator, and the first Black federal judge in Alabama; listen to original podcasts—Columbia Race Talks: Critical Race Theory (Studio for Law and Culture) and Through the Gale: Lawyering, Freedom, Democracy—featuring faculty and students; and explore the work of Bayeté Ross Smith, the Law School’s first artist-in-residence.

Seated James Meredith looks at his diploma at 1968 graduation

James Meredith ’68: A Racial Justice Pioneer

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Woman in a white sweater

Monae A. White ’22: Find a Fuller Version of Justice

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A woman wearing headphones looking at an image on a wall

Visualizing Violence: Bayeté Ross Smith Exhibition Opens at Jerome L. Greene Hall

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Photo of U.W. Clemon with Lions of Law logo

The Trials, Tribulations, and Tenacity of Judge U.W. Clemon ’68

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Collage of images with text that says "CRT2"

Columbia Race Talks: Critical Race Theory

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Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality, More than Two Decades Later

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Flo Kennedy speaking at a mic. Credit: Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

A Fighter For All Causes: Flo Kennedy ’51

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Image of people at a protest. Text: Through the Gale: Lawyering, freedom, democracy

Through the Gale: A Podcast About Lawyering, Freedom, and Democracy

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Columbia Law Professor Kendall Thomas in glasses and white shirt in front of mircrophone

Kendall Thomas Takes Pride in Being an Outlier and OutLaw

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Judge Elreta Alexander

Celebrating the Life of Judge Elreta Melton Alexander ’45, the First Black Woman to Graduate From Columbia Law

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Woman in glasses and colorful blouse

How I Got Here: Kamilah Moore ’19

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Professor Kellis E. Parker black and white portrait crop

The Legacy of Kellis E. Parker, Columbia Law’s First Black Professor

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Constance Baker Motley portrait

Tribute: Constance Baker Motley ’46

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Damonta D. Morgan ’22

Student Spotlight: Phillips Fellow Damonta D. Morgan ’22

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Woman with gray curly hair in jacket with Lions of Law headline

Marcia Sells ’84: Putting Diversity Center Stage

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