Leading Lawyer Speaks On Equality

James Ferguson addressed more than 150 people at the law school as a part of the William P. Murphy Lecture Series.

In his speech, he thanked the University's first black law students -- Harvey Beech and Kenneth Lee, who graduated in 1952 -- for their bravery in the face of adversity.

"I can conceive of no greater honor than to speak (here) today," Ferguson said.

Ferguson graduated from N.C. Central University in 1964 and earned his law degree from Columbia University in 1967. He founded one of North Carolina's top law firms in civil rights litigation in Charlotte, and he also started the N.C. Association of Black Lawyers.

Organizers of the event said Ferguson generally is considered one of the best trial lawyers in the state.

During his speech, Ferguson addressed the history of racial bigotry in the South and honored Beech and Lee for the hardships they went through while earning their degrees.

"We must honor them by breaking the barriers that remain for the blacks and other minorities that exist in the legal system," he said.

Ferguson then addressed the nation's atmosphere of racial inequality.

"Race defines where we go to church, where we go to school, who our friends are and how well we do in school," he said. "The society (Beech and Lee) fought for is not a society where race is a deciding factor in our lives."

Beech spoke after Ferguson, giving a short speech about the state of race in the nation today.

"We need to get rid of the prefixes," Beech said. "No more White-American or Black-American."

The lecture series was named for UNC law Professor William Murphy, who retired in 1990.

Each year, a speech is given that relates to one of the classes he taught while at the University. Murphy was involved in race relations law and was once run out of Mississippi for teaching the famous civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education in the 1960s.

Many of the listeners said they were impressed and moved by the speeches.

"I think it was great," said Jennifer Lutz, a first-year law student.

Second-year law student Camesha McAllister also said she was impressed. "The speech was wonderful -- it was much-needed," she said. "This is a time of remembrance; we need to look at (what it is to be) American."

The students also were impressed by Ferguson's remarks regarding race relations across the country.

McAllister said there are still constant battles against racism. "Race is an issue that is present everywhere."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.