Jane Bolin (1908-2007) enjoyed a number of firsts during her lifetime. She was the first black woman to graduate from Yale Law School, the first to join the New York City Bar Association, the first to join the city’s law department and the first black woman to serve as a judge in the United States.
Born on April 11, 1908, in Poughkeepsie, NY, Bolin was the youngest of four siblings. Her father, Gaius Charles Bolin, was the first black to graduate from Williams College and became a lawyer. Her mother, Matilda, a white Englishwoman, died when Bolin was eight. Bolin graduated from high school in Poughkeepsie and was one of two black students in her class at Wellesley College.
She lived off campus with the other black student while most of the white students ignored her. In a 1974 essay in Wellesley After Images, she said:
“There were a few sincere friendships developed in that beautiful, idyllic setting of the college but, on the whole, I was ignored outside the classroom. I am saddened and maddened even nearly half a century later to recall many of my Wellesley experiences but my college days for the most part evoke sad and lonely personal memories. These experiences perhaps were partly responsible for my lifelong interest in the social problems, poverty and racial discrimination rampant in our country.
I report my memories honestly because this racism too is part of Wellesley’s history and should be recorded fully, if only as a benighted pattern to which determinedly it will never return and, also, as a measure of its progress.”
A career adviser at Wellesley tried to discourage her from applying to Yale Law School because of her race and gender, but Bolin always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. In 1931, she became the first black woman to receive a law degree from Yale and passed the New York state bar exam the following year. She practiced with her father for a short period and then with her first husband, Ralph E. Mizelle. In 1937, she was named Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, serving on the Domestic Relations Court.
On July 22, 1939, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia appointed 31-year-old Bolin as a judge of the Domestic Relations Court becoming the first black female judge. In 1941, she gave birth to her only child, a son, Yorke Bolin Mizelle. After her husband died in 1943, she balanced motherhood and a career. “I don’t think I short-changed anybody but myself,” she said. “I didn’t get all the sleep I needed, and I didn’t get to travel as much as I would have liked, because I felt my first obligation was to my child.” She married a minister, Walter P. Offutt Jr., in 1950. He died in 1974.
Five years later, after having served on the bench for 40 years, Bolin retired. With Judges Justine Wise Polier and Hubert Delaney she achieved two major changes: the assignment of probation officers to cases without regard for race or religion; and a requirement that private child-care agencies that received public funds had to accept children without regard to ethnic background.
An activist for children’s rights & education, Bolin, after retirement, volunteered as a tutor in math and reading for children in the New York City public school system. Bolin devoted much of her life to community activities and served on numerous boards including those of the Wiltwyck School for Boys, the Dalton School, the Child Welfare League of America, New Lincoln School, United Neighborhood Houses, Neighborhood Children’s Center, and the local and national NAACP.
She also served on the New York State Board of Regents and received honorary degrees from Tuskegee Institute, Williams College, Hampton University, Western College for Women and Morgan State University. Bolin died at the age of 98 on January 8, 2007, in Queens, NY.
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Concrete Loop will feature ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week. These features honor black people through the years and submissions are welcome.
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Good looking out CL, thats why your the best.
Shes left me in awe.
She had many advantages in a time that was hard for full blooded blacks because of her white blood which shows how she could have abandoned the plight of blacks and the poor. But she didn’t. Which adds to her austerity. Good lookin out for this info.
Good lukin out CL.
This is a great post. Really insightful. Especially being a young black woman at law school, I can relate. Some of the earlier issues with regard to her race and being excepted still permeate the legal profession in the case of blacks till today. It has gotten better, but there’s still a long way to go.
Such a blessing! 98 yr old BEAUTIFULL
that was a good post.
thanks for my daily dose of inspiration =)
She did a lot throughout her life while overcoming a lot! These are the type of people our children should honestly look up.
GOOD LOOKING CL
SHES AN INSPIRATION
SHE LIVED TILL SHE WAS 99 :O
WOW
Thank you for that story. Great information and inspiring.
She’s truly a pioneer. Thanks CL!
Ms. Bolin is a credit and inspiration to all black people and all women. As
recent law school graduate, I can appreciate the hard work and dedication
it must have took for her, not only professionally, but personally. I admire
and respect Ms. Bolin and humbly thank her for coming before. Thanks
CL for posting something we need to know.
WOW! Thanks for posting this! She broke so many barriers not only for Blacks but women as well. It’s sad how you read about this inspiring story and then watch the news and see these crazy kids in school trying to kill their teachers and each other!!There’s NO excuse for folks to sit around in this day and age when we had pioneers doing BIG things back in the day and paving the way for the younger generation!
what an incredibly awesome, inspiring, and beautiful woman.
Interesting piece. I’d never heard of her before but it’s nice to know that this woman achieved so much and accomplished all of this during one of the most turbulent times in our history (the 20s – 50s).
Not to be nitpicky but why is it that when people tell stories they always divulge the race of the parents, and even more specifically, highlight the fact the mother or father was White. I mean, what significance is that? I notice that her father was also mentioned in this snippet but it was never clarified whether or not he was Black (guess he must have been since it wasn’t important enough to mention).
Anyway, I’m just pointing this out because it’s always been a source of contention for me. I used to get so irritated when I would read an article (especially in Essence) about an “attractive” person of mixed heritage and they would say things like thi British-Irish, Japanese, blah, blah, blah “beauty”. I mean really. When the person was pure Negroid, they never got the “beauty” attached to it. And I know this for a fact because that’s one of the reasons I stopped reading Essence for a while.
IIsn’t it enough anymore just to be BLACK? Don’t get me wrong, everyone should have ancestral pride. It just disturbs me that it’s more common for people to highlight others races that make up a people, as if it’s not enough just to say “these are so and so’s achievements.” It begs the question, would this person have achieved less if they weren’t mixed and is that why it’s that important to metnion that?
Correction, they did mention that the father was Black.
This goes to show that their is no excuse for not pursuing you dreams.
DAKAR, I LOVE THIS POST.
Thank you for helping me smile about the law today. She is an example of why young black lawyers need to continue to strive to become leaders in the law instead of paycheck collectors. Thanks again for the response to one of my post about serving others instead of ourselves, I didn’t know you really read them.
Concrete really stepped it up when they included you on their staff.
love these educational post..please keep them coming
I just find it strange that both of her husband’s died so quickly. Other than that, that is an awesome achievement!!!!!!
Thanks for the post. Theres alot of people you never hear about in Black History.
@4 hang in there I can relate. Seven years later I am still in the fight!
I am Enlightned CL !!
Keep uplifting OUR people !!
Great post CL! I love becoming more knowledgeable about my people!
I don’t think I had heard of her. She paved the way for many…..Good post
nice post
Excellent post CL! This is what they should teach in the public schools as part of teaching history. We need to have black history integrated into all schools with reinforcement at home. Instead the children learn about things they don’t care about for the most part and don’t pay attention to anyway.
White America needs to be aware of our greatness as well especially since most are oblivious to our culture aside of what they see on television.
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Never heard of her before, thanks Dakar, very good information, as I will share this with son and others, thanks CL
She’s definitely the epitome of excellence. It is stories like this that makes me even prouder to be black. Thanks Mrs. Bolin for not only improving the quality of life for African Americans, but also for the breaking academic barriers for all.
#14: I know how you feel. I almost left that little tidbit of information out, but I figured someone would mention it eventually, so in the end, I thought it best to go ahead and add it. It shouldn’t matter, though. The father carries the seed and you are what your father is, so Judge Jane Bolin is a black woman, regardless of how you look at it. Just like Donyale Luna, despite her insistence otherwise.
#17: I read all the responses and all e-mails. It’s unfortunate, though, that I can’t respond to every single one, but I do what I can…as that is all any of us can do.
#26: I couldn’t agree more. That’s one of my biggest problems with the public school system and will definitely create tension if I teach in a public school setting. I believe your comment may have sparked this month’s J. Dakar On topic.
Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar
Really great post!! Very inspiring!!
I love these posts CL!
No other blogs are doing it like yall…keep thinking outside of the box and keep informing us!!!!
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
Great exposure, for an extraordinary woman!
Very inspirational….
Happy Birthday mama…
All I can say is wow after reading that story. She was such an extraordinary woman who basically paved the way for a lot of black lawyers. Keep dropping the knowledge CL!
Ok so if a person is biracial and you refer to them as solely black. Doesn’t that make you racist? Why is she pigeonhold to the black race. Her mom is freaking white after all. I’m so sick of this one drop mentality that persists in society. She is just as much entitled to her whiteness as she is to her blackness. She is most definitely an inspiring woman and all that jazz. But she is not the first BLACK woman to blah blah blah. She’s the first biracial woman.
Black Parent + White Parent = Black Child? Wtf
Wellesley students love Concrete Loop! Thanks for posting!
Thanks for this info. I’m 25 and I’ve been practicing law in Philadelphia for almost 2 years now. She opened up a lot of doors for us!!!
I really like these Black History Spotlights.
I love Black History! Thank you concreteloop for making an effort to expand info about or history beyond a month. This is what Carter Woodson was talking about! BTW, I never heard of Ms.JANE BOLIN before. Learning about her today was good for my soul. As an aspiring lawyer/social engineer, this was truly insirpational!
I love Black History! Thank you concreteloop for making an effort to expand info about our history beyond a month. This is what Carter Woodson was talking about! BTW, I never heard of Ms.JANE BOLIN before. Learning about her today was good for my soul. As an aspiring lawyer/social engineer, this was truly insirpational! Carry on tradition people!
I love this CL/J. Keep it coming. It’s amazing what they DON’T teach us in school. We should have known about this woman YEARS ago. Thanks again.
CALM DOWN Floridaboy8703!! Most of us American Blacks are mixed with different races. Ms Bolin was the same age as my grandparents and one of my grandmothers was mixed as well. Clearly looking at Ms. Bolin she looks like a ligh skinned Black woman. Society–especially WHITE folks could care less her mother is White all they see is a BLACK woman!
#14 and #29 – J, there’s no need to leave her racial background out, because during her time, that was the most important thing about a person. It’s sad, but it had a major affect on virtually every facet of one’s life. Eventhough being of mixed race was an advantage, you were still BLACK! Thus, you had the same rules as every other 100% black person; so what she accomplished was major.
The saddest thing of all is that while it’s not so blunt, we’re still seeing this play a major role in many high-profile fields. Though they’re all stuffed into the black category, BEYONCE, ALICIA, and LEONA LEWIS are all of blatant mixed-race heritage, and isn’t it rather interesting that they still represent the standard of beauty of African American women? Would it be too much to say that their success is tied into this (ie, mixed=beauty=more likely success???)
People can say, “oh, that’s Hollywood, not the public”, but the public, eat’s it right up! Ask Kelly Rowland, Anika Noni Rose, Kimberly Elise, and EVEN Angela Bassett. Not to mention _________ (insert brown/dark woman here)………
Interesting to know
This is the type of info that young folks need to be aware of. There is hope for a better today and tomorrow. I don’t listen to or look at any black-oriented programs, if they are preaching negativity. If you don’t have hope, ya might as well put a bullet to your head.
Great read! Thank you so much!
This is a great site as well! http://www.ls.cc.al.us/bl...history/blackhistory.html
Bre
Floridaboy8703, just to clarify my point I’m not suggesting that she shouldn’t have been proud about being considered half anything. Who cares about that? She couldn’t help being mixed any more than you can help being born with 10 fingers and 10 toes. My point is that the whole “mixed” thing and being of White ancestry often seems to be thrown into the conversation when it relates to one’s accomplishments. I don’t see how that’s relevant. Journalists, writers, etc need to be mindful that they’re sending a message that accomplishments are tied to race when they go out of their way to point these things out. If the accomplishment is significant enough, why does it matter what race the person is, and why is it such an achievement that the person was mixed? It’s almost like society is putting mixed people on a different pedestal by constantly pointing out this fact. As someone else said, there’s a great likelihood that WE ARE ALL MIXED. No-one has proven that anyone is 100% pure breed anything.
Very good post she broke down barriers for black people who became lawyers just like her. A person that is mixed with black blood in them is considerd black in American whether they look white, black or whatever. Just look at Tiger Woods, Lisa Bonet, Halle Berry and Nicole Ritchie’s kids their black. All I can say is black is black and thats it.
Ok this is GREAT and not to take anything away from her accomplishments at all, but she wasn’t black if her mother was a white english woman. I am a black woman, but this irks me. I have mixed heritage down the line, but if my mother and father were two different races, I would like to be acknowledged as both, not just one or the other. We are so quick to categorize people. But hey…some people of mixed heritage don’t mind it, so why should I, I guess.
Posts like this keep a sista goin….I mean she was AMAZING….a shero…as Dr. Angelou woud say.
# 48—No one is taking away her mother’s side! It’s a HUGE accomplishment that this woman not only received a degree from Yale but also became a judge during the ’30s!!!! Whether she was mixed with Asian, Hispanic, Elephant, Lions or Tiger–She is STILL a double minority(woman/Black) and this was a major accomplishment! Just like Tiger Woods is the first BLACK to win a Masters tournament. Tiger of course always puts his heritage out there and I’m not mad at him for that!
Inspiring…
REPRESENTIN THE PK!!!!
Gret post! She lived a very long meanuingful dream-fullfilled life. I admire her.
Great Info!!! I briefly mentioned Ms.Bolin on a project I did on blacks in higher education……it’s great to hear about her life more in depth.
It appears that number 48 is the only one who understands what im trying to say. I dont care if she is black or white or pink. She can be whatever she wants to be. But its sickening how mixed race people with black parents are just lumped over into the “BLACK” category. Society needs to quit that mess. Everytime I hear someone call barack obama A BLACK MAN it makes my head hurt. There is nothing extra special about being black nor white. But the man is BI RACIAL. Everytime I turn on CNN its “How do whites view BLACK presidential candidate Barack Obama”.
Hello Pundits and analyst. The black man has a GASP white mother. Which makes him not only black. But also black and white.
But I assume society just buys into this one drop rule. Dont send me that foolishness though.
Floridaboy8703, if I’m not mistaking, I think Obama classifies himself as a black man. Everyone knows he biracial. If it doesn’t bother him, it doesn’t bother me.
Personally, I don’t care what people call themselves. It has no bearing on my life whatsoever, so eh.
am sorry but why 98% of all the first are YELLOW BONE/
i love it though cos i am too but THE mix gins gotta lotta work on that
48 u are wrong
VIN DIESIL IS CONSIDERED BLACK????
NO even though he is half black
black people steal people TOO MUCH
leave some for the white man cos u know he wants it
NO HATE but she ain`t black
am not gonna say black enough cos thats crap
SHE JUST HAPPENS TO BE BLACK and by that i mean it`s by mistake cos u can tell she is no way black but half black
OBAMA passes as black cos he is OUTLY black with 2% margin
THIS LADY WAS OUTLY BLACK because of her ERA
my son don`t wanna be called black/white cos he know he is not
Great job, keep up the good work. Glad to read about such an awesome woman in our history. Sadly I’ve never heard of her until this post.