Philly, State of Mind

The last two weekends, I entertained a Philly State of Mind. I journeyed to Philly last week to spend time with my Mom for Mother’s Day.  This week, I motored southeast, and the drive nearly came to a crawl on the Schuylkill Expressway because of the many events people were traveling to in and around Center City.  I accompanied my husband to the Barristers Association of Philadelphia 2014 Scholarship Gala.

I haven’t lived in Philadelphia for over 30 years, so I enjoy rediscovering what I thought I knew about it and exploring the new. The Hyatt Hotel that we stayed at was located in Penn’s Landing, a waterfront area of Center City along the Delaware River section of Philadelphia. I don’t recall this area being this busy or developed when I did reside in Philly.

I love attending events as an observer and not a participant. The dinner was a black-tie event.  I find it interesting to see the interpretation of what people think black-tie means. As a reminder, black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions derived from British and American costume conventions of the 18th century, worn only after 6 p.m. black tie is less formal than white tie but more formal than informal or business dress. Women can wear a short cocktail dress or a long gown; men can wear black tuxedos or suits.

Attorney Benjamin Crump was the Master of Ceremonies and Special Guest for the Barristers’ Annual Awards Gala. You may recall Crump as the attorney who represented the parents of the shooting victim Trayvon Martin, who, on February 26, 2012, was killed by George Zimmerman.  Crump serves on the National Bar Association as Vice President.  The dais included a list of the who’s who of the Philadelphia Attorneys.  A barrister is an English term for a lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the higher courts.

Meanwhile, four students were awarded scholarships worth $1500.00 at the gala. This doesn’t sound like much, but I am optimistic this amount will help offset annual semester book purchases or help you go towards a meal plan for the year.  Now, my memory does serve me well from growing up in Philadelphia; in remembering the leaders in the Philadelphia community for their servant leadership, three attorneys received the J. Austin Norris Award and the A—Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Award and the Cecil B. Moore, respectively.

I especially recall Cecil B. Moore not so much as an attorney but as a community activist during the U. S. Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.  He earned a reputation as a no-nonsense lawyer who fought for his mostly poor African-American clients.  He went on to serve as President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the NAACP and on the Philadelphia City Council.  As a homage to Cecil B. Moore’s innumerable contributions to the Black community, the Barristers’ Association presents this award to an individual or organization who embodies selfless service to the community.  This award was given to Attorney Michael Coard ( I thought they were saying Michael Kors, hehe).

J. Austin Norris was not a name I recall, but his pedigree is worth mentioning. He was a strong advocate for equality of opportunity.  He used political power to advance the status of black lawyers with the expectation that those lawyers would bring about further social change.  In recognition of J. Austin Norris’ focus on improving the position of blacks in the community, the Barristers’ Association presents this award to an attorney of color who has demonstrated distinguished service to the Barristers legal professional, and the community at large, congratulations to Attorney Scott Reid for receiving this recognition.

Another name in the community I do recall while growing up in Philly was A. Leon Higginbotham, he was a lawyer, judge, and scholar whose nearly 30 years as an influential federal judge.  President Clinton awarded Higginbotham the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in September 1995. The Barristers’ Association honors an individual who possesses the qualities that exemplify Judge Higginbotham’s career, professional excellence, scholarship and commitment to social justice, this award was given to retired judge, Honorable Kathryn Streeter-Lewis, congratulations.

If nothing else, whether as an attorney or barrister, one can make a difference in whatever one does and never overlook the opportunity to help others.