African-American bars.

I am writing in response to the letter published in the February 15 News in which John T. Carney commends Judge June C. McKinney's article on Florida's first black lawyers but asks for enlightenment on the need for African-American bar associations. He is curious why the National Bar Association exists when black attorneys can be members of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Carney argues that black bar associations are "archaic" in light of the recent election of President Barack Obama.

Mr. Carney's questions are not new. Likely since its beginnings in 1926 as a week celebrating the contributions of African Americans, the question has been asked: "Why is there a Black History Month?" These inquiries are usually followed by an example of recent African-American achievement, allegations of separatism, and attempts to shock--what, as Mr. Carney asks, if there was a corresponding white organization?

In asking similar questions and making similar arguments, Mr. Carney claims not to understand the "birth" of black organizations. But the origins are well-known. Such groups were born out of segregation and exclusion, and later disenfranchisement. The question of relevancy in today's context is more complex, but I offer a few reasons.

Minorities make up about 30 percent of the U.S. population, according to the 2000 census. But Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that in 2003, only about 10 percent of lawyers were minorities. More specifically, black attorneys make up only 4.9 percent of employed lawyers. According to Lawyers for One America, nationwide less than 3 percent of all partners in the nation's law firms are minorities, and that number falls to less than 2 percent in the largest and most profitable firms. The statewide membership of The Florida Bar is just 2 percent black even though the black...