FLORIDA'S FIRST PROJECT
Chief Justice Quince’s Initiative
Florida’s First Black Lawyers 1869 - 1979 Project“Bias and prejudice really stem from lack of knowledge
and understanding of other racial ethnic groups.”
- Justice Peggy A. Quince
Justice Peggy Quince recently made history when she became the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. During her historic passing-the-gavel ceremony, Justice Quince announced her ”Florida’s First” project to capture the oral and written histories of the first black lawyers admitted to the Florida Bar during the time period 1869-1979. Under the Chief Justice’s vision, the history of “Florida’s First” will be published in a book that she believes will foster a full understanding of the struggles and accomplishments of Florida’s first black lawyers, inspire current and future lawyers, and promote meaningful diversity in the profession. To implement the project and bring her vision to fruition, Chief Justice Quince turned to the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. The Chief tapped President Rachelle Munson and Judge June McKinney to spear-head the project.
Recognizing that the “Florida’s First” book will “send a statement of legacy, progress and pride”, President Munson adopted the project as part of her “Building on Our Legacy” platform for this bar year.
Under Justice Quince’s leadership and direction, Judge McKinney and President Munson have reached out to lawyers and law students across the State to research and write the biographies of Florida’s first black lawyers. To date, Judge McKinney and President Munson have identified over 260 “Florida's First”. Justice Quince personally conducted an interview of 94-year-old Judge John D. Johnson, who served on the “City of Miami Negro Municipal Court” in the 1950's. The biographies of the “Florida's First” will be published in a book that will be unveiled during The Florida Bar Annual Convention in Orlando at the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association Legacy Gala event on June 27, 2009, at the Orlando World Center Marriott. An oral history will also be presented at the gala including the interview with Judge Johnson.
In addition to the many lawyers and law students who have volunteered their time to write biographies, several Virgil Hawkins members are working closely with Judge McKinney and President Munson to make the project and the unveiling Gala a success:
Janeia Daniels (Research Committee Chair)
Carolyn House Stewart (Legacy Gala Chair)
Chan Bryant Abney (Underwriting Committee Chair)
Angelique Knox (Underwriting Vice Chair)
Sha’Ron James (Communications Chair)
Renee Gordon (Schools & Community Outreach Committee Chair)
