Isaac Conner
Dexter Conner
Anica Conner Jones
Christopher Conner
SO MUCH IN COMMON More unites people than divides them. People share more in common than not. This is obvious when looking beyond social constructs like race and color. Yet, discussions about people and society often focus on differences: black v. white, gay v. straight, East Tennessee v. West Tennessee. The “v.” abbreviates versus, which is defined as “1. Against; or 2. In contrast to or as an alterative of.”1 The versus, the contrast, may denote an adversarial relationship where one does not otherwise exist, which begs the question, why? Perceptions surrounding the necessity of inclusion, equity, and diversity too often center around differences with one group v. another group. While acknowledging individual and cultural differences matter, finding commonality in all humanity is vital and arguably a necessary step forward from some dark historical mistakes steeped in innumerable ‘isms like Jim Crowism, racism, and colorism. To find that commonality, consider these actions. Action One: First, a basic acknowledgement: When you give people a chance, you may discover commonality. Start by acknowledging that, often, individuals are more alike than different.
Ursula Bailey
Bridget Bailey Lipscomb
Hon. Robin Gunn
Denise Phillips Jones
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Action Two: Human nature draws individuals to what the psyche believes is familiar and safe, which is often manifested as monochromatic personal and professional people networks. The “perceive” stems from experiences— like media depictions—that may misinform reality, particularly about people seen as different. Assess your “perceive” to understand your starting point. Action Three: Make a deliberate effort to change your “perceive,” and “see” people who seem different on the surface, including those in opposite social constructs like race or who have been placed on the opposite side of the “versus.” Action Four: Broaden your definition of “your kind of people.” Develop diverse authentic relationships, allowing— it is a choice—“your kind of people” to include “others.” Sameness—A Representative Sample: In making a case for moving forward, challenge yourself to find “sameness” in all types of people, particularly removing “versus” from the equation to see the human being. To assist in meeting that challenge, this article highlights some of our neighbors, who share values, morals, successes, and other indicia of the uniting sameness at the legal profession’s core. In honor of African American
DICTA
History Month, Tennessee history, the state flagship university, and the Tennessee Bar, this group of neighbors is simultaneously and authentically African American, professional, University of Tennessee alumni or faculty, and Tennesseans. Other descriptors that may unite this group with you—successful, hardworking, dedicated to advancing the Bar—apply equally, except, perhaps, maybe skin color. Let’s start with the Conner family. Some read that name and their mind went to “the Conners,” an American sitcom about a working-class family struggling to get by on modest household incomes—wrong family. While both are all-American families, the Conners highlighted here are African American, Knoxvillian, professionals. Bernice, holding Master of Library Science and Ed.S. degrees, and the late Clarence Conner, a soil scientist and education professional, were college sweethearts married for 47 years. They have four children: Isaac, Dexter, Anica, and Chris, all born and raised in Knoxville’s Powell community. Isaac Conner, Esq. is an owner and executive vice president at A3 Athletics, serving as a sports agent for both NFL and NBA clientele, and a partner at one of Tennessee’s only minority-owned law firms, Manson Johnson Conner, LLP. He is a founding member of the Tennessee Alliance of Black Lawyers, a premier bar association for the advancement of African American attorneys. Isaac attended the University of Tennessee system for undergrad, graduate, and law school, earning three degrees. He shares two sons with his better half, Nalini, a clinical psychologist. Dexter Conner earned bachelor and graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of California followed by an executive MBA from Emory University. He now serves as Vice President, Wealth Advisor to the stars within Wilmington Trust’s wealth division located in prestigious Buckhead–Atlanta. He found support from mentors like former United States Ambassador Andrew Young and actor and author Sidney Poitier. But, his real claim to fame is that he married his high school sweetheart, a graduate of an East Tennessee premier private institution, Webb School of Knoxville, who became Dr. Jackie Branner Conner, with degrees from Spelman, Georgia Tech, and the University of Southern California. With almost 20 years of marriage, they share three children. Anica Conner Jones, Esq. did all the things “your kind of people” do. She graduated from Powell High at the top of her class with an over 4.0 grade point average. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Georgia Tech in mathematics and industrial engineering, and a University of February 2022
