Page 20 - Delaware Lawyer - Winter 2021

FEATURE
The Hon. Arlene
Minus Coppadge and
the Hon. Natalie J. Haskins
The Family Court’s Call to Action
Council on Racial Equity (CORE) hopes to eliminate institutional racism
Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream appeared to be a reality for most of us. Long gone, it seemed, were the remnants of slavery, the days of Jim Crow, and the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. Life seemed peaceful, happy and abundant. Little black children attended school with little white children. Black families lived comfortably in neighborhoods with white families.
In the legal profession, African Americans ascended to the judi- ciary, achieved partnership in major
law firms, and served in key leadership roles of local and state government. We had even witnessed and celebrated the historic election of the first Afri- can American President, Barrack Hus- sein Obama, in 2008. Perhaps, we re- ally believed that “we had overcome;” until that dreadful day, when we were reminded that racism is as prevalent today as it was in the distant past.
An Incomprehensible Act of Violence
On May 25, 2020, we were shaken to our core, as we watched, in shock
and sheer disbelief, an innocent black man’s life extinguished before our very own eyes by law enforcement; the in- stitution sworn to “protect and serve.” Mr. George Floyd’s senseless murder was repeatedly depicted on countless social media platforms and various news outlets. Some of us questioned: How could this be? How could this senseless act of violence continue for eight minutes and 46 seconds without a single police officer intervening to save Mr. Floyd’s life? Did his life not matter to anyone who witnessed this horrific crime? How could something so egregious happen in these United States of America?
18 DELAWARE LAWYER WINTER 2021