Message from the Dean

I am a proud graduate of Grambling State University. Before being named dean of North Carolina Central University School of Law (the “Law School”), my only connection to the school was watching the Eagles play my Tigers in the Celebration Bowl. Being appointed as the dean of one of the six HBCU law schools was a dream come true for me. Deaning in the Age of Coronavirus has been challenging. I have dealt with what I call “the four Ps” – pandemic, police misconduct, protests, and political upheaval. That said, I have been heartened by three more.

The Four Ps

COVID caused us to change the way that we deliver legal education and the manner in which we interact with one another. It has been especially taxing for our first year students. Most of those students were forced to finish their college journey online and to start law school remotely. All of our students had to endure a compressed fall semester and a spring semester without the benefit of spring break. Through it all, the faculty and staff came together to ensure that the nest was protected and that our legal eagles had everything they needed to take flight. Our alumni offered our students financial support, mentorship, and employment opportunities.

The punches kept coming and the pain was exacerbated by the police killings of unarmed Black people. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd were like an unholy trinity that crashed down on young people who were already reeling from the impact of a global pandemic. During that time, the only support we could give our students was empathy. We acknowledged their hurt and let them know that we were also in pain. I watched as deans of other law schools issued statements condemning the police killings. As the dean of a law school created to foster segregation and commissioned to educate African Americans, I felt that issuing a statement denouncing systemic racism would be an inadequate gesture. Instead, I worked with our faculty to create the Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiative (SJREI). SJREI is designed to explore ways to address issues of injustice and racism that go beyond the criminal justice system.

Like many young people across the country, our students joined the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to protest racial injustice in this country. My maternal instinct kicked in and I cautioned our students to wear their masks, practice social distancing and do other things to stay safe when they participated in the protests. However, I did not do anything to discourage them from engaging in peaceful protests. After being isolated from each other because of the global pandemic, the students used the protests as opportunities to come together for an important purpose. Their willingness to be advocates for the voiceless made me proud. The faculty and I teach our students that they can make a difference because Black lawyers matter.

BROWNE C. LEWIS

DEAN NCCU School of Law

The presidential election presented a panacea and a problem for our students. The elation of watching Attorney Kamala Harris, a fellow HBCU graduate and woman of color, become the vice president of the United States was dampened by the insurrection at the United States Capitol building. The former demonstrated how far we have come with regard to race relations and the latter illustrated how far we still have to go. It was necessary to pull back the layers of hatred and discontent that led to the insurgency so we could use this as a teachable moment for our students. We highlighted the need for lawyers to stand up and protect the rule of law. We let our students know that a peaceful transition of power could not have been possible without lawyers.

The Three Ps

During my first year as dean, the four Ps caused me to grind my teeth, toss in my sleep, and pull out my hair. Nevertheless, my saving grace has been the three Ps of pride, passion, and promise. The legal eagles have made us proud this year. They won mock trial competitions, excelled academically, and helped the less fortunate by participating in our pro bono program and our clinics. Regardless of what is happening in the world, I feel at peace when I walk into the law school building and see our legal eagles at work. My passion for the law and for my people keeps me moving forward. Every day, I see the promise in my faculty, staff and students. The fact that others see that promise gives me hope. For example, Intel Corporation saw enough potential in that they pledged to give us $5 million dollars over the next five years to create a Center for Technology Policy and Law. We are on track to do great things.

The one thing that has surprised me about North Carolina is how much it rains. The depression and isolation caused by the four Ps were amplified by the dreary weather. Nonetheless, as the days get longer and the sun shines more, I feel more invigorated. Author Shaun Hick is quoted as saying, “You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.” NCCU School of Law is coming out of the shadows into the sun. Our legal eagles are taking flight and getting ready to soar.