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An attempt to trace a certain pattern which exists, or appears to exist, within the history of black lawyers in the US. Their story is relatively short, for Amer black lawyers have been part of our times for only 129 yrs. However, black lawyers in America, insofar as they constitute a "black bar," should not be considered exclusively as a group, generating centain patterns. Whatever the term "black bar" may mean, it can be defined adequately only in terms of every individual black lawyer. There have been periods in Amer history when there were too few black lawyers for any sort of group to be assembled at all. Because so distinct & limited a minority can have no signif power or influence, it is encouraging that the sheer numerical characteristic of black lawyers has increased. In 1844 there was one; in 1973 there are more than 4,000. But however many more are needed, & however influential the "black bar" may become, it is perhaps to our benefit that we are forced to consider certain individuals, isolated though they often were, as the total representation of the black legal profession. Those men & women served to maintain a tradition throughout some very bad times. Today, they serve to remind us that black lawyers, however constituted, defined, or studied are nothing if not individuals, men & women of distinctive color, creed, & characteristic, & ultimately their own men & women, not those of any of their assoc's. HA.

This article seeks to trace a certain pattern which exists, or appears to exist, within the history of black lawyers in America. Their story is relatively short, for American black lawyers have been part of our times for only 129 years. However, black lawyers in America, insofar as they constitute a "black bar," should not be considered exclusively as a group, generating certain patterns. Whatever the term "black bar" may mean, it can be defined adequately only in terms of every individual black lawyer. There have been periods in American history when there were too few black lawyers for any sort of group to be assembled at all. Because so distinct and limited a minority can have no significant power or influence, it is encouraging that the sheer numerical characteristic of black lawyers has increased. In 1844 there was one; in 1973 there are more than four thousand. But however many more are needed, and however influential the "black bar" may become, it is perhaps to our benefit that we are forced to consider certain individuals, isolated though they often were, as the total representation of the black legal profession. Those men and women served to maintain a tradition throughout some very bad times. Today, they serve to remind us that black lawyers, however constituted, defined, or studied, are nothing if not individuals, men and women of distinctive color, creed, and characteristic, and ultimately their own men and women, not those of any of their associations.

The early history of legal education in the English-speaking Caribbean reflects a struggle for local identity and authenticity, while serving multiple states. Because schools are key locales for the making of docile bodies, West Indian lawyers experienced "subjection," a process that names new categories of persons but also subjects them to an articulation of disciplinary powers not of their own making.

The need for additional black lawyers should be obvious to all. No attempt is made to rehearse the arguments that were made in the early 1960's re the desirability of minority recruitment programs. Rather, it is attempted to depict the past & present experiences of black law students. Their story in legal educ is viewed in the natural history of matriculation in a law Sch. Thus, admissions, financial aid, attrition, bar examinations, & placement are among the topics discussed. Additional data are included on the org's extant which have made & are continuing to make it possible for enough blacks to participate in legal educ to make this article possible. HA.

The need for additional black lawyers should be obvious to all. No attempt will be made here to rehearse the arguments that were made in the early sixties regarding the desirability of minority recruitment programs. Rather, this article attempts to depict the past and present experiences of black law students. Their story in legal education is viewed in the natural history of matriculation in a law school. Thus, admissions, financial aid, attrition, bar examinations, and placement are among the topics discussed. Additional data are included on the organizations extant which have made and are continuing to make it possible for enough blacks to participate in legal education to make this article possible.