"Columbia Law School takes great pride in legendary, trailblazing graduates like Bella Abzug ’45, Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’59, Constance Baker Motley ’46, and Paul Robeson ’22. Lesser known, however, is Elreta Alexander, Class of 1945, our first Black woman graduate. She shattered many glass ceilings during her career. She was the first Black woman in North Carolina to practice law, argue a case before the state’s Supreme Court, and be elected a district court judge.
In February 2020, a historian named Virginia Summey tweeted about a book she was writing on Alexander. We immediately contacted her. The timing was fortuitous, as we were in the midst of a broad anti-racism initiative that included an examination of the Law School’s history.
On December 9, 2020, Columbia Law held a special virtual event hosted by our Alumni of Color committee, which centered on Alexander’s life and legacy. The program featured remarks from the dean of the law school and a presentation by Summey, followed by a discussion that drew connections between the obstacles Alexander overcame in her career and career pathways for students of color today. Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, the nation’s leading scholar of critical race theory, moderated the panel, which featured two distinguished Black alumni who served as judges, as well as the dean of the law school’s Office of Judicial Clerkships.
The event was attended by more than 200 alumni, students, faculty, and staff, along with prominent members of the North Carolina legal community."
From the Judges
Timely and impactful effort to emphasize commitment to DEI. Good involvement of others, including North Carolina Bar Association and U.S. Congress.
