Annual fundraiser marks 100 years of Black legal education in Detroit
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the graduation of Henry Tarrant at their annual Vegas Night fundraiser Saturday, March 26.
Tarrant was the first known Black student to graduate from Detroit Mercy Law. He was born in Harrisburg, Alabama in 1892 to a farmer and began working the family farm when he was eight. His family moved to Detroit as part of the Great Migration around 1919. After serving in WWI, Henry joined his family in Detroit and enrolled at University of Detroit School of Law in September 1919 at the age of 27, graduating in June 1922. Tarrant spent the next 16 years practicing law in Detroit.
“The 100th year anniversary of Mr. Tarrant’s graduation gives us an opportunity to reflect on the inclusive approach that Detroit Mercy Law has taken since it opened its doors in 1912,” said Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum, a constitutional law scholar who was appointed Dean of Detroit Mercy Law in 2021. “At a time when many aspiring Black lawyers would face rejection and obstacles, our doors were open to him, and that should make us all very proud.” She notes that Tarrant’s admission was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader commitment to equality in legal education. “The Jesuit tradition upon which the University was founded and the Mercy traditions which later became infused in our mission both compel us to continue to be a school that gives pathways to social justice careers and embraces students from all backgrounds.”
Dean Jefferson Exum says Detroit Mercy Law will keep Tarrant’s legacy alive by continuing its historic commitment to educating minority students. “It is important to acknowledge that providing a legal education to students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups is imperative to advancing justice in our country,” she said. She believes this approach not only benefits students from historically underrepresented groups, but also the legal profession as a whole. “When there are lawyers with diverse perspectives and experiences serving clients and advocating for the protection of rights, we all benefit from that richness and diversity of thought.”
Tarrant’s legacy is also furthered through the efforts of BLSA. BLSA is a professional organization of law students dedicated to service, mentoring, raising political and social awareness, and networking. “BLSA plays a key role in mentoring incoming students from underrepresented groups” said Dean Jefferson Exum. “By connecting with BLSA, students who may not have lawyers in their families are able to learn about law school study skills, professional networking, and other valuable skills that will support them in their legal education and thereafter.” She also acknowledged the critical role fundraising plays in furthering BLSA’s core mission. “Fundraising initiatives like Vegas Night provide the resources BLSA uses to not only offer valuable assistance to current students, but to also do the important service work that BLSA provides in the Detroit community,” she said.
This sentiment was echoed by Danielle Anderson, a third-year law student and President of BLSA. “Far too many Black people are deterred from pursuing a juris doctor degree due to a lack of financial resources. Events like Vegas Night allow BLSA to raise scholarship funds for students who demonstrate a financial need to eliminate the financial deterrent.”
Vegas Night is an annual, casino-style fundraiser hosted by BLSA. “Vegas Night is our largest fundraising event of the year,” said Emily Elmer, a second-year law student and Chair of BLSA’s Fundraising Committee. “Funds raised from ticket sales, silent auction proceeds, and sponsorships will enable BLSA to provide a range of merit-based scholarships to minority students here at Detroit Mercy Law.”
This year’s sponsors include high-profile, full-service Michigan law firms Plunkett Cooney and Dickinson Wright. “These sponsorships mean a lot because they believe in and support our cause: funding scholarships for our members,” said Anderson. “We are grateful to build relationships with these firms and show all students that BLSA does have a presence in Big Law.”
The event will be held virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, it will still include a silent auction, raffles, breakout rooms with games such as bingo, jeopardy, and trivia, music, and more.
The silent auction will feature a host of exciting items up for bid, including an autographed Detroit Pistons jersey signed by star forward Jerami Grant. Also on the auction block is an autographed photo of Red Wings star Givani Smith. Both items were donated to BLSA directly by their respective sports teams and come with certificates of authenticity. “It is wonderful to see our major sports organizations, like the Pistons and Redwings, recognize the important work of BLSA by contributing autographed merchandise to the Vegas Night silent auction.” said Dean Jefferson Exum. “This support shows that BLSA is making the sort of impact on students and the future of the legal profession that will benefit the Detroit community and our broader region in ways that community partners appreciate and find valuable as well.”
Vegas Night and the silent auction are open to the public and will occur on March 26, 2022. Tickets can be purchased at www.blsavegasnight.com. The silent auction will be open this Wednesday, March 23 through Saturday, March 26 and can also be accessed through the website.
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