Today, we’re raising a glass of Bayani, our first beautifully made Pinot Noir, in honor of a trailblazer who claimed a number of powerful firsts! Jane Bolin was not only the first black woman to graduate from Yale Law school, but also the first to join the New York City Bar Association, the first to join the New York City Law Department, and ultimately, the first black woman to serve as a judge in the United States. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1908, she lived to be 98 years old and left behind a legacy that continues to shape the lives of children today.
So why raise a glass of Bayani? Bayani is the Filipino word for “hero” and is the name of my first grandson. Bayani has an even richer context beyond someone who is brave or valiant; it embodies the spirit of collaboration embraced by someone who brings people together around a common goal. In this regard, Jane Bolin wasn’t just an American leader, but a true “Bayanihan” in every way! She used the seeds of discord in her own life to plant a rich and promising future for generations to come, going on to collaborate with first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt to create a program that would intervene before young boys committed crimes. She cared deeply about children and worked to encourage racially integrated child services, ensuring that probation officers were assigned without regard to race or religion, and publicly funded childcare agencies accepted children without regard to ethnic background.
The child of an interracial marriage, Jane endured constant discrimination. This continued long into her career as a judge, still being denied entrance to some businesses. Articles and pictures of the extrajudicial hanging of black southerners in The Crisis, the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had a powerful impact on her as a child, shaping her destiny as a champion for justice.
It was a path littered with roadblocks. She was not allowed to enroll at Vassar College, which didn’t accept black students at that time. Enrolling at Wellesley College at age 16, she was one of only two black freshmen. She not only endured rejection and discrimination by the white students, but a Wellesley career adviser also tried to discourage her from applying to Yale Law school because she was both female and black. Despite the constant challenges, Jane not only graduated in the top 20 of her class, but was also accepted to Yale where she was the only black student, and one of only three women. She graduated as the first black woman to receive a Yale law degree.
Justice Bolin remained the only black female judge in the U.S. for twenty years. Her passionate advocacy for children shaped the entirety of her career, where she served as a justice for the Family Court for 40 years. Her appointment was renewed three times when she was finally required by law to retire at the age of 70. She then volunteered as a reading instructor in New York City public schools for two years and served on the New York State Board of Regents, reviewing disciplinary cases.
We invite you to raise a glass of Bayani with us to Justice Jane Matilda Bolin, activist for children's rights and education. This trailblazing American leader’s legacy was long and deep. She was a legal advisor to the National Council of Negro Women. She served on the boards of the NAACP, the National Urban League and the Child Welfare League. She also received honorary degrees from Tuskeegee Institute, Williams College, Hampton University, Western College for Women and Morgan State University.
As we celebrate her life and legacy, we invite you to connect with us in conversation below. A bit of food for thought ...
- Tuck in a comment about the way Jane Bolin’s legacy has shaped your own opportunities and experiences today.
- If we could sit down and share a glass with Jane now, what advice do you think she would offer black and brown women today?
- What lessons do you think she would invite allies to consider in meeting the challenges she faced and that women of color still face today?
