Lack of encouragement never deterred me. I was the kind of person who would not be put down.

When I went to law school, nobody heard of civil rights.

We African Americans have now spent the major part of the 20th Century battling racism

In high school, I won a prize for an essay on tuberculosis. When I got through writing the essay, I was sure I had the disease.

In high school, I discovered myself. I was interested in race relations and the legal profession. I read about Lincoln and that he believed the law to be the most difficult of professions.

Lack of encouragement never deterred me. I was the kind of person who would not be put down.

All Southern state colleges and universities are open to black students.