Paula Lucas [Executive Director, Just the Beginning Foundation]: "Pull out your cup, fill it full of whatever morning sip of activation you need and let's talk.

The recent comments made by Attorney General Holder were rough – well intentioned and certainly based more upon fact than figment of imagination, but it's kind of like using a sheet of sandpaper to file a cracked nail – it would do the trick, but will it have the same outcome? Not likely.

As Executive Director for Just The Beginning Foundation, a pipeline organization offering programs directly aimed at inspiring young students, supporting and assisting older students all with an eye towards increasing diversity in the legal profession and judiciary, I deal with issues of race every day.

FACT: Minorities are underrepresented in the legal profession. According to the 2000 census, less than 11% of all lawyers are minorities, while minorities account for over 30% of the country's population. According to the US Census Department, the minority population will be close to 50% by 2050.

FACT: Since the birth of the federal judiciary in 1789, US presidents have appointed more than 3,100 judges to the federal courts. But it was only in the last seventy-four years that 269 women and 257 persons of color; 151 African-Americans, 88 Latinos, 16 Asian Pacific Americans and 2 Native Americans were appointed to lifetime positions on the federal courts. Currently, there are approximately 240 women, 110 African-Americans, 69 Latinos, 10 Asian Pacific Americans and 1 Native American out of the 1286 judges currently serving on the federal bench.

FACT: A number of States (Illinois being one) have enacted legislation specifically to address the disproportionate impact of drug laws on minority communities.

Society as a whole benefits when all groups have adequate representation in the system that acts as the gatekeeper to justice in our country. If one can find merit in that premise then most assuredly there is little offense in the notion that the legal profession needs to catch up.

And as you get down to that final sip of your drink, just for a moment consider the multitude of other professions that are out there and imagine just how many have similar issues.

The idea, the concept, the notion of race relations is a jagged nail. It can scratch and wound many, if not all of us, in some way or another. But this is no reason to continue to place band aids on these wounds and simply wait for a healing. It's time to begin the process of pulling off the band aid, exposing and acknowledging the wound and encouraging a healing. There is much work to be done. As individuals and organizations, it is our duty to arm ourselves with our respective files and continue this work. We do this by listening, sharing our own experiences, volunteering, mentoring and even just by reaching out to people and places we have never reached out to before. Through this we continue the process of smoothing out the jagged nail of race and race relations in this wonderful country of ours."