Remaking America into a House of Equality

In September 2020, Attorney at Law Magazine partnered with the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) to host a panel discussion with representatives from seven Minnesota bar organizations, moderated by the Honorable JaPaul J. Harris. The purpose of this discussion was to give a voice to affinity bars in the wake of recent tragedies — including the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, and others.

There is a modern fable called, “The Story of the Elephant and the Giraffe,” written by R. Roosevelt Thomas. The story tells about a day when Giraffe invited his friend Elephant into his specially designed home, built with “soaring ceilings and tall doorways, high windows with lots of light and narrow hallways that conserved space.” It didn’t take long, however, for the friends to discover that Elephant did not fit comfortably inside the house. Giraffe suggested that Elephant might fit better and be lighter on his feet if he took up aerobics or ballet. “‘Perhaps,’ said the elephant, ‘but to tell you the truth, I’m not sure that a house designed for a giraffe would ever really work for an elephant, unless there were major changes.’”

This story illustrates the power dynamic of diversity and inclusion. Giraffe represents the majority; it is Giraffe’s house, and the house was not built with Elephant in mind. The story makes plain that it is not possible for all people to fit into an environment or system that is built for only one type of person.

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The full article, "Remaking America into a House of Equality" was written by H.K. Wilson.

H.K. Wilson is a contributing writer for Attorney at Law Magazine. She has been writing features for the publication for more than four years.