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10 Goal IX 1 (2004)

handle is hein.journals/goal10 and id is 1 raw text is: P r e s i d e n t E I e c t R o b e r t J . G r e y , J On the second Tuesday of August 2003 in San Francisco, in the well of the ABA House of Delegates, Dennis W. Archer received the gavel of the organization's presidency and, in that moment, irrefutably demonstrated that there exists no height within the ABA that a lawyer of color cannot climb. Then, as if to put an exclamation on the point, I was elected president- elect. It was as if to say, and let there be no doubt! The moment was both bittersweet and uplifting. Bittersweet in its reminder of the lost opportunity of so many whose talents and ambition were overshadowed by the time and place in which they were born. But it was uplifting in the knowledge that the days ahead are brighter than the days behind. As triumphant as these moments are, we know that they do not happen in an instant. San Francisco 2003 was not an earthquake, a massive shift from prior nothingness. Our progress in diversity has been more like rolling thunder; starting small, soft, and far- away and gathering energy and voice, power and volume. The life of this association, this pro- fession, and this country is the same: Out of overt oppression came practical exclusion, out of practical exclusion came a break, a small window where a brave few let in the light and showed the way for more to follow. As this journey has continued, we've tasted success. Lawyers of color are general counsels of multinational corporations, managing partners of big firms, and leaders of the largest bar associations. The work has been engaged, but it is far from done. Not by a long shot. And it may not even be done in our lifetime. Not in our lifetime? This sobering thought can easily disappoint and dis- courage us. At times we all feel the exasperation of the lawyer quoted by J. Cunyon Gordon in her beautiful and poignant piece in the Spring 2003 issue of this publication: I'm tired of fighting that fight. After a while, I just get tired. But the greatest feats of mankind were all multigenerational challenges, each doing its part, advancing the cause and then leaving the endeavor in the hands of its sons and daughters. The work is about each and every one of us. By ourselves, we do not change the world when we visit an underprivi- leged middle school and teach the students that nothing can stop them from becoming lawyers if they have the will and dedication. By ourselves, we do not change the world when we mentor an associate in our firm, giving guidance, advice, and a helping hand so that in his or her own success, that lawyer will do the same. By ourselves, we do not change the world when we foster diversity pro- grams in our firms and companies to educate and inspire, to shape the dia- logue, to improve our understanding. By ourselves, we do not change the world when we insist that our law schools make greater gains in the inclusion of the full rainbow of American youth. But together, in all that we do, in how we represent others and our- selves, we do change the world. We are lawyers, and thus have been entrusted to uphold the Constitution and the principles of jus- tice. We are lawyers. And thus our own personal success can be a beacon of hope and inspiration to all younger versions of ourselves. Robert J. Grey, Jr., a partner in the Richmond, Virginia, office of Hunton & Williams, is president-elect of the American Bar Association. He will assume his presidency in August 2004. AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION

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