By Brittany Bailer
Two Howard University students have been named to the fourth cohort of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP). Howard alum Dijon Stokes (B.S. ‘20) of Charleston, West Virginia, and Jordan Braithwaite, an incoming first-year law student from St. Louis, Missouri, are two of this year’s 10 scholars.
In exchange for a full law school scholarship and professional development, scholars commit to devoting the first ten years of their careers to practicing civil rights law in service of Black communities in the South. The program is named in honor of Supreme Court Justice, legendary civil rights attorney, LDF founder, and Howard University School of Law alumnus Thurgood Marshall (LLB ’33); and iconic civil rights litigator, former LDF attorney, and the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge, Constance Baker Motley.
Launched in January 2021, LDF’s groundbreaking pipeline program will endow the Southern United States with the next generation of civil rights lawyers trained to provide legal advocacy of unparalleled excellence in the pursuit of racial justice.
“I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate and welcome 10 more extraordinary Marshall-Motley Scholars to the LDF family. Their unwavering dedication to advancing civil rights, rooted in their diverse experiences and profound community engagement, truly exemplifies the legacies of Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley and the transformative impact our program seeks to cultivate,” said LDF president and director-counsel Janai S. Nelson. “These scholars will stand as beacons of justice in the South, and I look forward to witnessing their growth, advocacy, and contributions to reshaping racial equity through the legal profession.”
The 2024 cohort of Marshall-Motley Scholars features a host of deeply dedicated individuals, combining a wealth of diverse backgrounds with impressive professional experiences. “As we welcome yet another cohort of ambitious young scholars, we have been thoroughly impressed by their profound commitment to advancing racial justice and equity in the South. Each scholar’s enduring passion and dedication to confronting systemic inequities underscore their boundless potential to become civil rights attorneys that will leave lasting impacts on the communities they will serve,” said Jino Ray, LDF’s director of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program.
“As they embark on this journey, we stand ready to provide the resources and support necessary to empower them as they become advocates for progress and equity in communities throughout the South.”
Meet the scholars:
Jordan Braithwaite
Braithwaite grew up in St. Louis, an upbringing that profoundly shaped her life amid firsthand experiences of injustices and systemic racism. Her passion for civil rights advocacy stems from experiencing discrimination and witnessing the injustices endured by her community, especially the aftermath of the Michael Brown shooting. However, instead of surrendering to the despair that often accompanies such experiences, she has channeled her pain into a powerful force for change.
Braithwaite recently earned her bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in law and society from Grambling State University. Braithwaite, a 2021 White House HBCU Scholar, a BeyGood Foundation Renaissance Scholarship recipient, Xceleader VoteHBCU’s first Fellow, and Class of 2023 AT&T Rising Future Maker, also holds a place on the Grambling State President’s List with a 4.0 cumulative GPA.
Throughout her undergraduate years, Braithwaite was deeply involved in volunteer and leadership activities, both on and off-campus. She founded a student mobilization initiative, “Grambling Student Power Network,” leading advocacy efforts for an on-campus polling location at Grambling State and mobilizing over 2,000 Black voters during the 2022 and 2023 elections. She served as state president of the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, Youth & College Division, where she developed and implemented several strategic action plans to enhance the organization’s influence in the Louisiana legislative process and collaborated closely with other Louisiana youth and collegiate units to devise and execute consistent action plans for impactful advocacy initiatives. She also served as the Advocate for Social Justice Chair for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
As a civil rights attorney, Braithwaite wants to challenge systemic injustices, create a more equitable society especially for marginalized communities in the South, and continue the legacy of trailblazers such as Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley.
“Howard University School of Law has always been my dream school and top choice,” said Braithwaite. “Its legacy of spearheading civil rights progress aligns with my dedication to racial justice through legal advocacy. The institution’s mission transcends providing students with a legal education, they foster a cadre of empowered social engineers.”
“Here, students not only acquire a deep understanding of the law but are instilled with the necessary skills and unwavering commitment to advocate and defend the rights of all, with a particular focus on marginalized communities of color,” Braithwaite said. “With this understanding I knew that Howard was the place where I could find a sense of community and thrive.”
Dijon Stokes
Stokes graduated from Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2020 with two bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. As an undergraduate, he immersed himself in various extracurricular activities and organizations that reflected his deep-seated commitment to community service and social justice, from organizing initiatives as director of operations with Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break program, to serving as a first vice president for the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
After graduating, Stokes worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening connections with southern ACLU affiliates, developing political strategies to address systemic issues facing Black communities, and leading successful campaigns for felony voting rights restoration. He currently serves as program associate at The Advancement Project in Washington, D.C., strategizing and steering the execution of nationwide voter education campaigns and advocating for fair access to the ballot for marginalized communities across multiple states.
Stokes wants to leverage his legal education to challenge oppressive structures and advocate for systemic change in the education and criminal justice systems. He draws his passion for civil rights from personal experiences navigating the complexities of economic disparity, over-policing, and incarceration prevalent in his hometown, and he envisions a future where equitable opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
“My goal is to spend my life fighting for racial justice in the carceral system and help lead movements for change that are centered on growth, grace, and meeting the needs of the most marginalized,” said Stokes. “That can look like using my skills in policy creation and strategizing, to lead the charge in using my learned legal tools to support the movement through the courts.”
