In stating that we need more Black physicians and lawyers, you have to also acknowledge the structural barriers and racism that preclude people from even getting the opportunity to get into the institutions that provide the training required to become a part of these professions.

I can only speak from the legal side, but I’m sure the same applies to so many other industries. To get into law school, many schools still require candidates to sit for the LSAT, a test that requires great preparation usually at a great economic cost. Prep courses cost thousands

of dollars and typically help increase the score one receives on a test. Unsurprisingly, your score is arguably the most significant component of your application that determines which schools will accept you. We, unfortunately live in an elitist society, so the better your score

the “better” schools will admit you. More often than not, employers look at the school an applicant attended and a candidate’s GPA. When you’re a first generation candidate in a professional program, you’re likely surrounded by many white faces that have family members who have

already gone through these programs and are able to provide them with institutional knowledge and guidance that puts them ahead of the curve. Even after graduating from these programs, you are expected to sit for more testing to certify your ability to practice. This, too, comes

at a great economic cost. To sit for the bar exam, graduates have to pay for the application fee, the character and fitness fee, and likely a bar prep course — thousands of dollars. Facing the prospect of being saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt, it’s no

surprise that people who genuinely want to become members of these different professions decide in the end that it’s simply not worth the cost benefit analysis. Aside from the economic burden, there is a lot of mental and emotional anguish associated with being a part of programs

and professions where you are one of few faces. I did not begin a battle with depression until I got to law school. It was truly the first time in my life that I constantly felt inadequate and insufficient. These institutions are notorious for not providing support to Black and

Brown students who absolutely need support to get through these programs in one piece.

This was a lot lol, but my broad point is divert your attention and energy to these institutions that have intentionally placed countless obstacles in the way to persuade people that look like me from even going after their dream of being a part of some type of change.

I’m sure there are many things I missed, so apologies for that. But, if you are someone who s interested in pusrsuing a legal education/career, I am always extremely willing to answer any questions or help in any meaningful way that I can. Thanks for reading y’all!

Last thing in my rant - in referring to support of students while they’re at these institutions, it’s enough just to say we have __% of Black students here. Black students have a hard time of getting into things like Law Review, Mock Trial, Moot Court etc.. typically bc white

students who make up a majority of these teams are the ones who are making the decisions of who makes it. So many of these processes are riddled with bias w/ no regard to how it impacts the personal & professional future of Black folks who are trying to make it in these programs

The same goes for the makeup of Black people at places like big law firms, clerkships, judgeships. The percentage becomes lower the higher the role becomes. Not because we are not capable, but because we receive little to no support that promotes our retention. There is a lot

done to recruit us for diversity purposes, but not much done to retain us, to groom us, to develop our skill sets so we can become partners, judges, directors. You can ask yourself why that may be. This thread is all over the place, so I’ll stop... but these institutions have to

be actively challenged to transform in meaningful and impactful ways so we can truly have the representation that is so desperately needed