Celebrating Gertrude Rush: Iowa's first female African American lawyer

LAWYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SHE WAS GIVING PERSON, BUT SHE WAS A WARRIOR TO HER AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS BEST ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES AND IMPACT IT. AS AN ATTORNEY, SHE IS GERTRUDE RUSH, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN IOWA. A FEAT MADE IN 1918 HERE IN DES MOINES. YES. I MEAN, THERE WAS RACIAL UNREST HERE IN THE CITY AND IN IOWA DURING THAT TIME. BUT RUSH PERSEVERED AND ATTORNEY DOCTOR VICKI LONG HILL SAYS PEOPLE HERE IN IOWA ARE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. BUT SHE NOT ONLY WAS AN ATTORNEY, SHE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND SHE ASSISTS WOMEN WITH WOMEN ISSUES. AND FOR MANY FEMALE ATTORNEYS, RUSH BECAME A SOURCE OF HOPE. I WAS INSPIRED, YES, BY GERTRUDE RUSH. WHEN I LEARNED, I SAID SHE DID IT IN 9019. I CAN TO. BUT RUSH IS STORY DOESN’T END IN 1918. IN 1925, RUSH ALONG WITH OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATTORNEYS FORMED THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION RIGHT HERE IN THE MORNING. IT WAS FOUNDED BECAUSE, AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ATTORNEYS WERE DENIED ADMISSION TO THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND ASSOCIATE IN THE PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUDGES, LAWYERS AND LAW PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS, THAT NEARLY A CENTURY LATER CONTINUES TO EXIST, EMPOWERING THOUSANDS NATIONWIDE AND IN THE LAW FIELD. AND IT ALSO STARTED IN THE MORNING, WHICH IS WHY THIS MONUMENT STANDS TALL DOWNTOWN ON TO AFRICAN DRUMS, INTENTIONALLY OFF BALANCE. AND THAT REPRESENTS THE LEGAL SYSTEM THAT IS IT IS NEVER BALANCED. RUSH’S NAME ETCHED IN STONE AT THE BASE FOR BEING ONE OF THE FEW LEADING THE CHARGE AND PAVING THE WAY FOR THOSE TO COME. LIKE THE HONORABLE JUDGE AMANDA BELCHER, WHO IN 2010 BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN JUDGE IN IOWA, GERTRUDE RUSH LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR ME AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. IF YOU ASK A JUDGE BELCHER TO NAME ONE OF RUSH’S BEST ATTRIBUTES, IT’S HER FAITH. SHE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WAS TREATING PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. IT’S THE GOLDEN RULE. AND JUDGE BELCHER SAYS IT’S SOMETHING SHE MAKES SURE IS FELT IN HER COURTROOM. EVEN WHEN PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES BEFORE THE COURT. PERHAPS AT THE MOST LOWEST POSITION OR PLACE IN THEIR LIFE. I WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY’VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, THAT THEY WERE TREATED FAIRLY. JUDGE BELCHER IS ONE OF OVER A DOZEN RECIPIENTS OF THE GERTRUDE RUSH AWARD, AN ANNUAL AWARD PRESENTED BY THE IOWA NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION. AND THE ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN ATTORNEYS. AND JUST LIKE THE OTHER RECIPIENTS, GERTRUDE RUSH’S LEGACY IS SOMETHING SHE DOESN’T TAKE LIGHTLY. I AM JUST SO THANKFUL AND HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN HER FOOTPRINTS IN THE DOORS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHE OPENED FOR ME AND SO MANY OTHERS TO COME BEHIND ME. KAYLA JAMES. KCCI 8

In 1918, Gertrude Rush became the first African American woman licensed to practice law in Iowa. "She was a giving person, but she was a warrior too," Attorney Vicky Long Hill said. "There was racial unrest here in the city and in Iowa during that time... She not only was an attorney, she was a civil rights activist and she assisted women with women's issues."For many female attorneys, Rush became a source of hope."I was inspired, yes, by Gertrude Rush. When I learned I said, 'She did it, in 1918... I can too,'" Long Hill said.But Rush's story doesn't end in 1918. In 1925, Rush, along with other African American attorneys, formed the National Bar Association in Des Moines."It was founded because the African American attorneys were denied admission to the American Bar Association," Long Hill said.Nearly a century later, The National Bar Association, an association of predominately African American judges, lawyers, law professors and students, continues to empower thousands nationwide in the law field.A monument to the founders of the National Bar Association stands tall in downtown Des Moines. The monument features two African drums that are intentionally off balance. "That represents the legal system. It is never balanced," Long Hill said.Rush's name is etched in stone at the base of the monument to honor her legacy and the way she paved the way for those to come."Gertrude Rush laid the groundwork for me and so many other people," District Associate Judge Romonda Belcher said. "She knew she was best able to make the changes and impact as an attorney."Belcher herself followed in Rush's footsteps, becoming the first female African American judge in Iowa in 2010.Belcher said that one of Rush's best attributes is her faith."She always talked about treating people the way you want to be treated. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Belcher said. "Even when people find themselves before the court, perhaps at the lowest position or place in their life. I want them to feel like they've had an opportunity to be heard. That they were treated fairly."Belcher is one of over a dozen recipients of the Gertrude Rush Award, an annual award presented by the Iowa National Bar Association and Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.Just like the other recipients, Gertrude Rush's legacy is something Belcher doesn't take lightly."I am just so thankful and humbled to be able to walk in her footprints... And the doors and opportunities that she opened for me and so many others who will come behind me," Belcher said.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

In 1918, Gertrude Rush became the first African American woman licensed to practice law in Iowa.

"She was a giving person, but she was a warrior too," Attorney Vicky Long Hill said. "There was racial unrest here in the city and in Iowa during that time... She not only was an attorney, she was a civil rights activist and she assisted women with women's issues."

For many female attorneys, Rush became a source of hope.

"I was inspired, yes, by Gertrude Rush. When I learned I said, 'She did it, in 1918... I can too,'" Long Hill said.

But Rush's story doesn't end in 1918. In 1925, Rush, along with other African American attorneys, formed the National Bar Association in Des Moines.

"It was founded because the African American attorneys were denied admission to the American Bar Association," Long Hill said.

Nearly a century later, The National Bar Association, an association of predominately African American judges, lawyers, law professors and students, continues to empower thousands nationwide in the law field.

A monument to the founders of the National Bar Association stands tall in downtown Des Moines. The monument features two African drums that are intentionally off balance.

"That represents the legal system. It is never balanced," Long Hill said.

Rush's name is etched in stone at the base of the monument to honor her legacy and the way she paved the way for those to come.

"Gertrude Rush laid the groundwork for me and so many other people," District Associate Judge Romonda Belcher said. "She knew she was best able to make the changes and impact as an attorney."

Belcher herself followed in Rush's footsteps, becoming the first female African American judge in Iowa in 2010.

Belcher said that one of Rush's best attributes is her faith.

"She always talked about treating people the way you want to be treated. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Belcher said. "Even when people find themselves before the court, perhaps at the lowest position or place in their life. I want them to feel like they've had an opportunity to be heard. That they were treated fairly."

Belcher is one of over a dozen recipients of the Gertrude Rush Award, an annual award presented by the Iowa National Bar Association and Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.

Just like the other recipients, Gertrude Rush's legacy is something Belcher doesn't take lightly.

"I am just so thankful and humbled to be able to walk in her footprints... And the doors and opportunities that she opened for me and so many others who will come behind me," Belcher said.

Celebrating Gertrude Rush: Iowa's first female African American lawyer

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