Judge Jane Bolin
In 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to research and promote Black Americans’ achievements. In February 1926, the association sponsored the first Negro History Week. They chose February because it was the birth month of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
By the 1960s, Negro History Week had become Black History Month, celebrated in communities across the country. Beginning with Gerald Ford in 1976, every U.S. president has declared February Black History Month.
African Americans have made monumental contributions in every facet of our history from science, medicine, the military, the arts, entertainment, literature, industry, commerce, government, and every other area that has helped shape our country, including children’s welfare.
One of the remarkable African Americans whose support of children impacts us today is Judge Jane Matilda Bolin. Born in New York in 1908, Jane was the daughter of the first black graduate of Williams College, who later became a lawyer. At a young age, Jane dreamed of following in her father’s professional footsteps.
Jane proved to be a bright student and graduated from high school at the age of 15. She attended Wellesley College but felt isolated and saddened as one of only two African American women in attendance. Though she achieved top honors, her teachers warned her of the futility of her dream to become a lawyer. Even her father objected.
Determined to follow her dream, Jane applied to and was accepted by Yale Law School. In 1931, she held the distinction of the first African American woman to graduate from the school.
Jane successfully progressed in her career and became the first black woman to become an Assistant Corporation Counsel where she worked in the Domestic Relations Court. At the age of 31 and after two years in that position, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia summoned Jane to a meeting. Having no idea the purpose of the meeting, Jane was apprehensive until learning the Mayor was appointing her as the first African American woman judge in the U.S.
During her 40-year career as a judge in the Domestic Relations Court, Jane saw the worst domestic violence cases, child neglect, discrimination, and the effects of poverty. Being a life-long advocate for children, she made significant changes that last today. Among her accomplishments was ending race-based assignments of juvenile probation officers and ensuring childcare agencies could no longer deny children help because of ethnic background, furthering children’s rights and children’s education.
Judge Brolin served on the Board of the Children’s Defense Fund and other national organizations that advocated for all children throughout America.
Judge Brolin retired at the mandatory age of 70 but continued to work tirelessly for children and family welfare until her death in 2007. She added to our history and left behind a rich legacy for children and families of all generations.
Suggested sources for more information:
Black History Month on BIOGRAPHY
Origins of Black History Month
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