NBL HOF Flipbook - Flipbook - Page 2
A MESSAGE FROM
PRESIDENT
LABARRON BOONE
As my term as President of The National Black Lawyers Top 100 comes to a glorious end and I reflect upon the past
year, I remember when I first heard a whisper that turned into a shout saying, “If I have seen further than others, it is
by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
I could not shake that inner voice urging me on, telling me to highlight the legal excellence within The National
Black Lawyers Top 100. I could not shake that inner voice reminding me that this
cohort of attorneys is in rarefied air and have used their positions to significantly
change their communities, the country, and the world. I could not shake the reminder
that, all too often, the accomplishments of African American lawyers are overlooked,
undocumented and not celebrated. For these reasons, this year as President, I listened
to that voice and created The National Black Lawyers Hall of Fame.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Change does not roll in on the
wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must
straighten our backs and work for our freedom.” Our Hall of Fame attorneys have
stood in the face of true adversity and continuously worked for the freedom of all,
especially the disenfranchised, injured, and future generations. They represent so many “firsts.” They have done,
and continue to do, the hard work.
Tonight, we honor the inaugural six inductees of The National Black Lawyers Hall of Fame with a symbol of
excellence so that all who come after us can see the glory bestowed on these honorees for their intelligence, service
and acts of bravery which bent the arc of this nation towards justice.
Our inductees’ expertise extends across a broad range of legal specialties, demonstrating that there is not just one
path towards lasting impact. We are proud to highlight the diversity of their experiences and their world-changing
results.
We hope you enjoy this celebration of African American legal excellence. Our inductees are the history-makers, our
generation’s heroes. Each has used the law as their weapon to fight for justice and truly make this nation live up to
its commitment that “all men are created equal with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We’re so
glad you are here with us to celebrate them tonight.
