Page 10 - Miami Vol 8 No 1

LEGAL LEGEND
Roy Black
Educate From Within
“I HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME IN READING AND SELF-STUDY. WHEN I STARTED AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER THERE WAS LITTLE OR ANY TRAINING IN TRIAL ADVOCACY.”
AALM: When did you rst know you wanted to become an attorney? What drew you to this career?
BLACK: I gained a burning desire to become a lawyer from being discriminated against.
I moved to Jamaica when I was still in high school. My new school was grandly named Jamaica College (JC). A British “public school” that was not public at all. One teacher in particular seemed to hate me – my math teach- er. He detested me, either because I was an American or I was white. He would force me to stand at the blackboard and do math with the intricate arithmetic of British mon- ey – pounds, shillings, guineas and even pence, while my
fellow students smirked and giggled at my ignorance.
Yet I owe that hateful teacher. By subjecting me to in- justice, he taught me to love justice. By in icting pain and humiliation, he awakened my heart to compassion and mercy. He allowed me to nd my mission in life. Fight against prejudice, battle the oppressors, support the un- derdog, question authority, shake up the system and em- brace those who are placed last, to whom the present is
bleak and the future without hope.
AALM: What personal trait most aided you in your ca-
reer?
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MIAMI · VOL. 8 NO. 1 10
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLINDLIGHT STUDIO