So Much In Common

Isaac Conner

Dexter Conner

Anica Conner Jones

Christopher Conner

Ursula Bailey

Bridget Bailey Lipscomb

Hon. Robin Gunn

Denise Phillips Jones

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.

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 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

COVER STORY By: Brooklyn Sawyers Belk

Lyft, Inc. Litigation and Safety Counsel and University of Tennessee College of Law Visiting Professor

Tennessee JD. She started her career as a law clerk for the Honorable Bernice Donald, followed by law firm practice. She then committed her talents to government service with high-level contributions at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Anica, too, is married. Mike Jones, an educator at a prestigious private school, is her partner. They share two children.

Christopher Conner, Esq., after leading Powell High to athletic successes, focused on greater academic pursuits at Hargrave Military Academy, Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee having earned MBA and JD degrees. He worked in New York as a National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Fellow and is currently a public servant as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting criminals and vindicating victims.

Professional, successful, Tennessee born and raised— yes—your kind of people! But wait! There are more.

Ursula Bailey, Esq., is University of Tennessee educated with MBA and JD degrees, and developed her bona fides early by assisting in the defense of Serial Killer, Thomas “Zoo Man” Huskey during law school. She has been appointed to numerous positions by mayors, governors, and the Tennessee Supreme Court. In December, the KBA honored Ursula with the 2021 DICTA Award for her humbling testimony, “‘I Am Not Ok!’ What I Learned About Inclusion And Why It Matters.’” Establishing her as unique and well-rounded, Ursula also possesses culinary expertise having been an executive chef. She once prepared and served canapes to “the” Julia Child. Her sister, Bridget Bailey Lipscomb, a salutatorian in undergrad, and University of Tennessee JD earner, became the first African American partner at a large Knoxville law firm, Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop, P.C. She saw success at the United States Supreme Court when her pro bono death penalty client was released from prison; and in truly great litigator form, she swapped sides and led the United States to a dismissal of the famed Jaycee Dugard litigation. Bridget continues to bless the world with her talents as DOJ’s Environmental Torts Assistant Director, and District of Columbia Women’s Bar Association President.

And more! The Honorable Robin Phillips Gunn is Knox County’s first African American judicial officer serving as Knox County Juvenile Court Magistrate Judge. She is University of Tennessee educated. Her husband is an entrepreneur and successful business owner, and they share five children. Like the Bailey and Conner families, it runs in the Phillips family. The daughters of a successful East Tennessee dentist, her sister, Denise Phillips Jones, Esq., is University of Tennessee educated with a long career in executive leadership, currently as the Sarah Cannon Assistant Vice President.

More yet! LaKenya Middlebrook, Esq. is a Knox County native and the daughter of civil rights pioneer Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook. She earned a University of Tennessee JD. She is the first African American woman to serve as the Knox County Democratic Party chair, and as the city’s Police Advisory and Review Committee executive director. On August 31, 2021 Mayor Indya Kincannon appointed LaKenya as the City’s first-ever Director of Community Safety. An impressive groundbreaking change-agent, that is her!

Still more! TaKisha Fitzgerald, Esq. is a Knox County Assistant Attorney General, who has litigated some of the city’s most high-profile cases. TaKisha is from Knoxville and University of Tennessee educated. She has received several distinguished awards, including the National District Attorneys Association’s Home Run Hitter’s Club Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Commission of Greater Knoxville Advocacy Award, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s President’s Award.

And more! Without article limitations, the summaries would include Columbia University and George Washington University Law School educated Donny Young, who has served as one of few African American attorneys on the East Tennessee Criminal Justice Act panel representing indigent criminal defendants; LaToyia Carpenter, University of Tennessee JD earner, Eternal Life Harvest Center ministry leader, and one of approximately five ever and currently the only African American Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Tennessee; Eboni James, University of Tennessee educated and adjunct professor, former Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for a Y-12 contractor, and current Lyft, Inc. Associate Counsel; Teri Baxter and Dwight Aarons, tenured University of Tennessee College of Law professors; by way of a Chattanooga adoption, the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, who despite not being in Knoxville, earns honorable mention as the district’s first and only African American United States District Judge; and, many others, who may be your kind of people.

This highlights African American professionals with credentials and accomplishments that you may hold dear to earmark the depth of sameness that is all around us. Should something as non-determinant as skin pigment, made a life category as a societal choice, make a person more or less your kind of people? Better measures of a person are the content of one’s character, work ethic, values, and morals—manifest here as a summary of the things that make “others” your kind of people.

Different? No! The Same!: Your Kind of People.

1 “Versus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/versus. Accessed 12 Dec. 2021. LaKenya Middlebrook

TaKisha Fitzgerald

Donny Young

LaToyia Carpenter

Eboni James

Teri Baxter

Dwight Aarons

Hon. Curtis L. Collier