It's sometimes difficult to tell where racism will pop up, as in the case of the lawyer recently admitted to the Pennsylvania bar.

While Pa has claimed to be among the more liberal states:

He applied for a Pennsylvania license and was rejected¹, so he moved to New York state and was licensed there. ²

Twenty years later, after being admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court³, he applied again for a license in Pennsylvania, and was again rejected.⁴

On Tuesday, 03 May 2010, the State Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ordered that he must be licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. <sup>5


1</sup> "because he was black," 1844

² the first black lawyer licensed by New York State

³ 1867

⁴ "because he was black," 1868

⁵ 160 years late

Black lawyer rejected for Pa. bar in 1847 admitted

And it's still with us.

John