
             ,,": ,,AM ,I8
              0,PE7Y ,P9D]

  ,PE7Y ,P9D] IS NO /RANG] 6R1D]S (
PREVI\S ,K]NEL ,BOOKS4 ,"H %E TELLS (
EXP]I;ES %E _H Z A TE5AG]8EXP]I;ES :
LAID ! F.D,N = H] C>E] Z A SU3ESS;L BL
LAWY]4
  ,I AM A LAWY]1 LIV+ 9 ,I[A )A ,YALE
,LAW ,S*OOL DEGREE1 FIVE YE>S (
PROSECUTORIAL EXP]I;E 2H ME1 &A PRIVATE
PRACTICE4 ,I AM AL BL4
  ,9 ! C\RSE ( MY PRACTICE1 ,I H APPE>$
9 C\RTS 9 /ATES O!R ?AN MY [N4 ,:5 ? IS
D"O1 ! \-(-T[N LAWY] NE$S 6H A LOCAL
LAWY] 6HELP ) LOCAL PROC$URES4 ,I 0
REPRES5T+ A BL WOMAN S"EAL YE>S AGO 9 A
CASE 9 A DI6]5T /ATE4 ,Z WE _H "W$ ?+S \
2T U1 ,I 0 S]V+ Z 8L1D C\NSEL10 & HE 0
8SECOND *AIR40 ,Z ! T]MS IMPLY1 ! L1D
C\NSEL SITS 9 ! F/ *AIR NE>E/ 6! JUDGE4
  ,:5 WE WALK$ 96! C\RTROOM1 ,I HAPP5$
6BE 9 FRONT ( ,ALLAN1 ! LOCAL P]SON :5
WE R1*$ ! B>4 ,I WALK$ "? ! GATE F/1 >.D
! TA# 6! PLA9TIFF'S SIDE1 & UP 6! F/
*AIR4 ,ALLAN FOLL[$ & /OOD 2H ! SECOND
*AIR4 ,I CD TELL HE 0 2MUS$ 0"S?+ Z HE
MADE ! 9TRODUC;NS1 B ,I DIDN'T LE>N
UNTIL LAT] J :AT _H HAPP5$4
  ,Z ,I CAME >.D ! TA# & /OPP$ 2H ! F/
*AIR1 ! JUDGE NE>LY FELL (F ! B5*1 MO;N+
6,ALLAN 65=CE USUAL C\RTROOM PROC$URE4
,X N"E O3URR$ 6! JUDGE T ,I MI<T 2 A
LAWY]4 ,HE KNEW ! PLA9TIFF 0 A BL WOMAN1
& HE ?"\ T ,I 0 ! PLA9TIFF4 ,HE ?"\ ,I
DID N "K ": ,I 0 OR ": ,I 0 GO+ & T ,I 0
9ADV]T5TLY BR1K+ C\RTROOM ETIQUETTE :
DICTATES T ! PLA9TIFF SIT 9 ! S1T F>!/ F
! JUDGE4 ,HE HOP$ 6REM$Y ! SITU,N 0SIL5T
H& & FACIAL MO;NS 2T HMF & MY 8LAWY]0 S
T C\RT CD PROCE$ ) "EY"O 9 _! PROP]
PLACES4
  ,)\T "E 9DICAT+ 6! JUDGE T HE "U/OOD !
SIGNALS1 ,ALLAN Z A GD LOCAL LAWY] QKLY
& E6ICI5TLY MADE 9TRODUC;NS1 ID5TIFY+ ME
Z L1D C\NSEL4 ,HE AL M5;N$ T ! PLA9TIFF
7Z IS P]MISSI#7 0 N "! = >GU;T ON !
MO;N4 ,! JUDGE SUBSID$4
  ,I J WI% ! JUDGE _H SPOK5 DIRECTLY 6ME
& /RAI<T5$ \ ! MIS"U/&+ ) ME 9/1D (
ATTEMPT+ 6D X SIL5TLY & )\T MY K4 ,I ?9K
,I WD H FELT BETT] AB X IF HE _H4 ,B1 ,I
AL WD H "U/OOD V WELL H[ HE R1*$ !
3CLU.N T ,I DID N "K ": ,I WAS4 ,I ?"\ !
SAME ?+ = YE>S4
  ,:5 ,I F/ LO/ MY SI<T1 ,I 0 SU45LY !
ONLY BL P]SON ,I KNEW4 ,"! 7 NO ROLE
MODELS ( SU3ESS;L1 CAPA# BL P]SONS 9 MY
LIFE4 ,I ONLY KNEW :AT ,I ?"\ BL P CD D3
N M*4 ,I ?"\ T COLLEGE WD 2 IMPOSSI# =
ME N[1 T A JOB 0 \ (! "Q1 T ^! 3SID],NS
7 F> TOO AB/RACT 6WORRY AB 2C ,I N[ _H A
M* BI7] PRO#M ON MY H&S3 ,H[ WD ,I "K ":
,I 0 IF ,I 0 BL8
  ,I _H ALW "KN ": ,I 0 ) VISUAL
CUES8/REET SIGNS1 ! APPE>.E ( BUILD+S1
/ORE "NS ABV ! DOORS1 TA#S & *AIR 9 A
ROOM4 ,N[1 Z A BL P]SON1 N"O ( ? 0
AVAILA# 6ME4 ,H[ WD ,I "K ": ,I WAS8 ,!
BE/ WAY 6H&LE ? PRO#M 0 N"E 6G ANY":4
,S1 ,I MO/LY DIDN'T4
  ,MY FAMILY URG$ ME 6GET \ & D ?+S L
"EYBODY ELSE4 ,I DID E N[ & !N1 J 6PL1SE
!M4 ,B1 ,I DIDN'T L X1 & ,I DID Z LL Z
,I CD4 ,I DIDN'T H ANY SKILLS 9 GETT+
9=M,N Z A BL P]SON1 & ,I DIDN'T H ANY
WAY ( F9D+ ANY4 ,I DIDN'T "K ANY O!R BL
P :O DID GET >.D ON _! [N4 ,I FIGUR$ X
CDN'T 2 D"O4
  ,&1 :5 MY FAMILY 9SI/$ T A BL P]SON C
D ?+S1 ,I WD SAY 6MYF3 8,Y1H1 SURE4 ,T'S
EASY = Y 6SAY4 ,B1 Y DON'T H 6D X & FEEL
/UPID & CLUMSY & N "K ": Y >E4 ,Y H YR
SI<T4 ,T MAKES ALL ! DI6];E40 ,I KNEW !Y
M1NT WELL1 B !Y CDN'T T1* ME ! SKILLS4
,!Y DIDN'T "K !M1 & !Y DIDN'T USE !M4
  ,ALL ? O3URR$ DUR+ HI< S*OOL1 A H>D "T
ANYWAY = P 6LIVE "?4 ,MY ADOLESC;E
-PLETELY 4APPE>$ 2H A WALL ( LACK (
3FID;E & C]TA9TY ( FAILURE4 ,Y PUT UP A
BRAVE FRONT & SAY ^WS L 9DEP5D;E &
EMPLOY;T1 B Y J DON'T 2LIEVE X4
  ,!N1 ,I F.D O!R BL P4 ,X 0 Q 0A3ID5T1
& ,I AM / GRATE;L = T TURN ( FATE4 ,I
5C.T]$ A BL P]SON WALK+ NORM,Y1 SETT+ 8
[N C\RSE1 DECID+ ": HE 0 GO+1 & "K+ ":
HE WAS4 ,WE DIDN'T SP1K4 ,I J OBS]V$ Z
HE PASS$ BY4 ,&1 F T OBS]V,N1 ,I 0 SURE
T HE KNEW ": HE WAS1 N ONLY 9 ! BUILD+
WE 7 IN1 B 9 8 LIFE Z WELL4 ,I WANT$ 6BE
A# 6D T4
  ,I F.D \ ": HE _H LE>N$ 6MOVE AB S
3FID5TLY4 ,"! 0 A TRA9+ PROGRAM1 RUN 0BL
P ) BL P Z T1*]S4 ,B1 T WASN'T ALL4 ,!Y
7 SELF-3FID5T1 SU3ESS;L1 GD AT GETT+
>.D4 ,!Y KNEW ": !Y W]E1 & !Y 7 WILL+
6T1* ME ! SKILLS4 ,I 0 9ITI,Y HESITANT4
,!N ,I JUMP$ 9 ) BO? FEET4
  ,MY SI/] HAS REC5TLY TOLD ME A /ORY F
T ]A4 ,I DON'T REMEMB] ? AT ALL2 X IS A
V CLE> *ILDHOOD MEMORY ( H]S4 ,%E IS MY
BABY SI/]1 ! "O BORN EI<T YE>S AF ME =
:OM ,I 0 ! ATT5TIVE BIG SI/]4 ,:5 ,I LO/
MY SI<T1 X DIDN'T MATT] 6H]4 ,I 0 / H]
BIG SI/]1 ! "O :O _H ALW TAK5 C>E ( H]4
  ,MY SI/] & MY MOM CAME 6VISIT ME1 %E
SAYS1 :5 ,I _H BE5 AT ! TRA9+ PROGRAM
ONLY A FEW WEEKS4 ,:ILE ,MOM TALK$ )!
T1*]S1 ,I GR&LY ANN\NC$ T ,M>?A & ,I 7
GO+ =A WALK4 ,WE -E F A T[N ( #H1JJJ1 &!
PROGRAM 0 9 A T[N ( #BEJ1JJJ4 ,LOTS (
NOISE1 LOTS ( TRA6IC1 LOTS ( WAYS 6GET
HURT IF Y DON'T "K :AT Y >E DO+ OR ": Y
>E4 ,MY SI/] SAYS T %E REMEMB]S V CLE>LY
T MY MOM DIDN'T HESITATE4 ,IF ,I SD ,I
CD TAKE ,M>?A =A WALK1 !N ,MOM 2LIEV$ T
,I CD4 ,M>?A1 ( C\RSE1 N"E "Q$ :E!R ,I
CD4 ,I 0 ! BIG SI/] :O _H ALW TAK5 C>E (
H]4
  ,Z ,I SAY1 ,I REMEMB] N"O ( ?4 ,M>?A
SAYS N[ T ! IDEA ( \R GO+ =A WALK M/ H
BE5 M ?AN A SIMPLE MATT] 6,MOM4 ,"H 0 H]
BL DAU<T]1 B>ELY 96! TRA9+ PROGRAM1
PLANN+ 6TAKE ! EI<T-YE>-OLD BABY (!
FAMILY \ 96! /REETS (A BIG C;Y4 ,B1
,M>?A SAYS T ,MOM DIDN'T HESITATE4 ,WE
LEFT4
  ,I PROMPTLY GOT LO/4 ,M>?A SAYS T1 Z
WE WALK$ 7ALW SAFELY ON ! SIDEWALK &
CROSS+ )! LI<TS1 ( C\RSE71 X SL[LY DAWN$
ON H] T ,I DIDN'T "K ": WE W]E4 ,B1 %E
SAYS T ? DIDN'T BO!R H] S9CE %E KNEW H]
BIG SI/] WD FIGURE \ :AT NE$$ 6BE D"O4
,M>?A SAYS T ,I />T$ ASK+ H] :AT %E SAW
& :5 ,I GOT VAGUE ANSW]S1 WD 9SI/ ON H]
2+ PRECISE AB ! LOC,N & ANGLE F U T !
OBJECTS W]E4 ,Z ,I GOT "S M 9=M,N1 ,I
FIGUR$ \ ": WE 7 & H[ 6RETURN 6,MOM4
,M>?A SAYS T1 LOOK+ BACK1 %E DOES N
REMEMB] ANY S5SE ( WORRY OR PANIC4 ,%E
KNEW ,I WD TAKE C>E ( H]4
  ,Z ,I PRACTIC$ "U ! GUID.E ( FELL[ BL
P 6LE>N NEW WAYS ( GA!R+ 9=M,N & US+ X
6TRAVEL AB SAFELY & E6ICI5TLY1 ! 9CID5TS
( MY N "K+ ": ,I 0 GREW FEW] & FEW]4 ,?
0 2C MY SKILL & MY 3FID;E 7 BO? 2+
9CR1S$ "U PRACTICE &)! GUID.E ( EXP]I;ED
BL P]SONS4 ,I 0 LE>N+ 6"K ": ,I WAS4
  ,! O!R ?+ T HAPP5$ 0 T1 :5 ,I DID LOSE
TRACK ( ": ,I WAS1 ,I LE>N$ H[ 6F9D MY
WAY AG4 ,US+ 9=M,N Z ,I 0 2+ TAU<T 0O!R
BL P1 ,I 0 LE>N+ :AT MY LL SI/] ALR
KNEW8T ,I CD F9D MY WAY EV5 :5 ,I _H
TEMPOR>ILY LO/ X4 ,9 FACT1 ! F9AL TE/ 9
MY TRA9+ 0 =! T1*] 6GET ME DELIB]ATELY
4ORI5T$ & !N 6DROP ME (F S"EAL MILES F !
TRA9+ C5T]4 ,US+ MY [N -MON S5SE & MY
DEVELOP+ SKILLS1 ,I _H 6F9D MY WAY BACK4
,I DID4 ,T 0 ! F9AL PRO( 6ME T1 EV5 :5
,I DIDN'T "K ": ,I WAS1 ,I CD F9D \4
  ,MY FAMILY 2LIEV$ 9 ME & 5C\RAG$ ME4
,B1 !Y DIDN'T "K ! SKILLS & !Y CDN'T 2
ROLE MODELS & !Y CD ALW 2 4MISS$ 0ME Z
8N RE,Y "U/&+40 ,B1 O!R BL P1 DO+ :AT ,I
?"\ ,I CDN'T1 _H TAU<T ME 0_! EXAMPLE1
0_! EXPLICIT 9/RUC;N1 0_! G5]OS;Y1 T ,I
CD "K ": ,I AM1 BO? GEOGRAPHIC,Y & 9 !
%AP+ ( MY [N LIFE4 ,! LESSON ( LE>N+
6TRAVEL SAFELY & E6ICI5TLY1 :ILE X 0
VITAL 9 XF1 SPILL$ OV] 6! RE/ ( MY VIEW
( MYF4 ,I F.D T SELF-3FID;E 9 MYF T ,I
_H ONCE S 5VI$ 9 T O!R SELF-3FID5T BL
P]SON Z HE WALK$ BY4
  ,MY BL T1*]S1 MY BL FRS1 MY BL
COLL1GUES ALL LE>N$ _! SELF-3FID;E "? !
,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL1 & ,I H LE>N$ AL T
! ,F$],N IS VITAL 6MY LIFE4 ,N ONLY DID
! ,F$],N "? XS ?\S&S ( MEMB]S >.D !
C.TRY T1* ME H[ 62LIEVE 9 MYF4 ,! ,F$],N
AL TAU<T ME "S?+ M4
  ,X DOESN'T H 6BE L X 0 = ME4 ,IF BL *N
C 2 R1*$1 IF _! P>5TS C 2 R1*$1 IF
P]SONS :O LOSE _! SI<T C 2 R1*$ AT AN
E>LY PO9T )! SAME MESSAGE &! SAME
EXAMPLES &! SAME OPPORTUNITIES 6LE>N ":
!Y >E1 !N ^! BL M5 & WOM51 BOYS & GIRLS
C LE>N "R AWAY :AT X TOOK ME S V L;G
6LE>N3 T1 Z A BL P]SON1 Y C "K ": Y >E &
Y C "K ": Y >E GO+ & Y C MAKE ^? DECI.NS
= YRF4
  ,T IS MY HOPE =! ,F$],N1 T WE C R1* !
BL P & ALL ! SI<T$ CITIZ5S Z WELL ) \R
MESSAGE4 ,MY LL SI/] _H X "R ALL AL;G4
,X TOOK ME A LL L;G] 6GET "!4 ,! JUDGE
HASN'T Q FIGUR$ X \ YET4 ,B1 IF WE 9 !
,F$],N KEEP SPR1D+ ! MESSAGE1 HE W4
  ,": AM ,I8 ,9 ! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL &
GRATE;L 6BE "!1 GRATE;L =! *.E ,I RCVD F
,F$],N MEMB]S & GRATE;L =! *.E 6PASS X
ON 6O!RS4














