The killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police has sparked nationwide unrest and months of protest. It also got me thinking about my own actions and how they align with my values with regard to fighting racism and other societal injustice. I wanted to share one action that I took, which I am proud of. I’m not holding myself up as an example, but I wanted to share one way we can all make meaningful decisions for ourselves based on principle and hopefully have a positive impact on society. This is – withdraw your support from institutions that work against your values.
I declined Harvard Law School
I said no to Harvard Law School. You may think I am the dumbest person in the world or the coolest, but I will tell you why: at the time they had not tenured a woman of color. That was my reasoning. I couldn’t support an institution that could not find one single qualified woman of color to tenure. It outraged me. I felt that I could not participate in an institution that was undeniably racist in its hiring practices. Columbia Law School, where I chose to go, at least had a few tenured women of color, although it wasn’t quite a rainbow.
To be open with you, I should tell you that I had just finished my Divinity degree at Harvard. That faculty was not exactly a flourishing institution of diversity either. Spending years in that environment made me vow not to support this kind of limited institution ever again. However, I soon let myself down. When I finished law school I started my career at a large law firm, which had very little diversity. At the time, I convinced myself that I had to take the position because of my student loans. Maybe I was wrong to do so.
Deny support to institutions that work against your values
But the fact remains, I said no to Harvard Law School. I said no because I felt that the best law school in the country had an obligation, a moral obligation, to have people of color, and particularly women of color, teach there. Though I sometimes still have doubts about whether it was the right choice for me, I nevertheless am proud of that decision and the reasons for it. Throughout my career, I have strived to help vulnerable people and those in need. I chose to focus on elder law because I believe that helping families find peace of mind is a way I can truly make a difference at the end of someone’s life.
Perhaps one way of effecting actual societal change is to deny our support to those institutions who do not support people of color, right from the very top. Maybe that is something we can all do when the opportunity arises. Maybe that is one way real change can happen.
Learn more about me and my background on my About page.
Wonderful !
Excellent read Katie! I did not know this. I love you. -m
Catherine, I think you made the right choice. I remember taking a job because I would be the only person from my culture to break that institutions limited diversity hires. It helped to get the ball rolling.
I believe sticking to our values and beliefs is very important.
Catherine I think you’re right on. I believe living by your moral values is the only way to go.
I did the same thing once for a job but I felt it was important that I be part of their diversity or the beginnings of it.
Take care!