The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Vanderbilt Law School has announced a series of events to celebrate Black History Month in February. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the admission of the first Black students to the Law School.
“Our theme, From Pioneers to Progress: 70 Years of Black Legal Advancement in the Face of Resistance, reflects both where we began and the work that remains,” said Alexis Shaw ‘26, Black History Month Chair for BLSA. “Through this month of programming, we hope to honor our pioneers while inspiring continued progress grounded in justice, accountability, and collective action. This anniversary calls us to examine how resistance to equity persists and how each generation of Black law students carries forward the responsibility to transform the legal profession.”
The BLSA will host a Pioneers to Progress Panel featuring Vanderbilt Law alumni on Wednesday, February 18, sponsored by the Dean’s Lecture Series. Kristen Clarke, who served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2025, will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, February 26, presented by the Hyatt Student Activities Fund. Historical photos and archival materials will be on display throughout the building, and BLSA members will host takeovers of the Vanderbilt Law Instagram account during the month.
“We are excited to honor trailblazers like Frederick Taylor Work ’59, Edwin Melvin Porter ’59, and Janie Greenwood Harris ’64, who were the first Black students admitted to Vanderbilt Law School,” said BLSA President Kyle Smith ’26. “Their decision to desegregate the law school paved the way for generations of Black law students who have gone on to become some of our nation’s premier attorneys. We seek to uplift their legacy and underscore the enduring responsibility to confront our history—so that the injustices of the past are neither forgotten nor repeated.”
Details for the Keynote Address and Pioneers to Progress Lecture will be made available later in January. Stay connected with Vanderbilt Law on social media for updates.