NAACP Head Advises Law Students

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Benjamin T. Jealous urged a group of aspiring attorneys to use their influence to enact social change at a lunch event at Harvard Law School yesterday.

Jealous reminded the law students to use their influence to serve the public interest and to remain aware of the social conditions around them.

“Part of your role as lawyer is to look for the laws and the amendments that exist and look for the language that will garner the greatest consensus,” he said. “You have to see the constitution as a living document, so you can insure a better future for this country.”

Jealous talked about his experience as an organizer and activist, advising law students about the importance that the public plays in major civil rights cases.

“Those of you who want to change the world should know the court of public opinion is paramount,” he said. “Public law is much more influenced by public opinion than they’d like to admit.”

Jealous also discussed the revised and expanded purpose and vision of the NAACP with his audience.

“Whenever I’m asked to speak, especially at law schools, I try to stress the impact that young lawyers can make and the nature of the times, in which we need to fight for human rights as well as civil rights,” Jealous said.

During the question and answer segment of the talk, Akosua K. Goode, a second year Law School student, asked Jealous what the biggest threat is to the continued existence of the NAACP.

“Human mortality is the biggest threat,” Jealous answered jokingly. “Fewer and fewer younger people are joining the NAACP. Most members are under university age or around retirement.”

Jealous went on to say that the NAACP is currently working to rebalance the age make-up of its membership by restructuring the organization and attracting members through marketing.

Audience members said that they found Jealous’s talk educational.

“As a member of Harvard’s NAACP chapter, there have been few opportunities to interact with those who are involved on the national level, so it was great to find out where the organization as a whole is heading,” said Clayton W. Brooks III ’10.

“It was refreshing to hear what Jealous had to say,” said Jarell L. Lee ’10. “I’m constantly surrounded by students, so it was great to meet and learn from someone who is a role model.”

The event was organized by the Harvard NAACP chapter’s President James A. Nortey and Vice President Toby R. Merrill, who are both students at the Law School.

—Staff writer Tara W. Merrigan can be reached at tmerrigan@college.harvard.edu.