Areva Martin, CNN Contributor, on Disrupting Norms with Fashion

Erin: “Thank you for joining me today. You have had an impressive career as a Civil Rights attorney. What are your feelings on the current state of civil rights in the United States and how are we making headway in a positive direction?”

Areva: “We are in an incredibly important moment for civil rights in America. We know from the history of the civil rights movement in this country that progress is always followed by pushback, and we are certainly experiencing that today. But it’s also true that we are in a moment of extraordinary possibility. We have a historic opportunity to realize the vision and work of so many who came before us. I am currently one of the lead attorneys on two major civil rights cases involving events that took place in St. Louis, Missouri and Palm Springs, California. These cases are an effort to right past wrongs and make survivors of some of our most egregious civil rights violations whole again through reparative justice. These are people whose families endured unfathomable loss through the actions of our core institutions – government, religious orders, and universities – whether through the enslavement of their ancestors to build one of our storied universities or the tearing down and burning of people’s homes in order to seize and monetize valuable property.

“Fashion can also be a powerful tool for breaking stereotypes and promoting narratives of resilience and empowerment.” – Areva Martin

Areva (cont.): It is noteworthy that I was once speaking about this exact issue on CNN—the shift in how we view and respond to victims of sexual assault and harassment—and after the interview I was I was actually shamed for the attire I wore on air! I’ve always been a person who challenged traditional norms about how lawyers should dress. I started my career at a corporate law firm and tried to play the game of wearing navy suits and crisp, white Brooks Brothers cotton button-down shirts with a strand of pearls. It never felt true to me. My mother and the bonus aunts I grew up with in St. Louis were all what we would today call fashionistas. They loved fashion, and I learned from the Black women around me that your presentation was everything. Even if you didn’t have a lot of money for clothes, what you did wear should always be impeccable–clean with perfect creases. As a little girl, I loved colors and often wore bright oranges, purples, blues, and yellows. I was best dressed in high school—but I also knew from a young age that in our patriarchal society, a well-dressed fashion-forward woman would be seen as a sexual object and not someone who was super smart or accomplished. I defied those norms in high school, and after a year at that corporate law firm, once I started my own law practice, I traded the blue and gray suits for the bright colorful outfits that were true to me.” Erin: “As a change agent, how do you see fashion intersecting with the work of change? “ Areva: “For so many of us, fashion is entwined with identity. It offers us ways to show affinity with a group, to demonstrate individuality, to have an unexpected impact by turning assumptions on their heads. I love when people who are smashing glass ceilings and subverting stereotypes embrace the power of fashion to make a statement—people like Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman, who actually hosted the Met Gala together one year. You see the joy in these young women when they have the opportunity to express their individuality, not just through their work as gifted artists and athletes, but also at a photo shoot or on the red carpet. Fashion can also be a powerful tool for breaking stereotypes and promoting narratives of resilience and empowerment. 

There was a moment I will remember always, after the death of Trayvon Martin, when the Black students of Harvard Law—my alma mater, posed for a photo while all wearing black hoodies with the caption, “Do I look suspicious?” These are brilliant, accomplished, hardworking young men who know, all too well, the impact of assumptions and stereotypes around dress and appearance. We spoke a moment ago about the civil rights movement. I think it is notable that people participating in the early marches very intentionally wore their Sunday best. They wanted to show pride and command respect while conveying the seriousness of the moment. I once heard someone comment about that, “Black people also just like to look good,” and I loved that observation. I had that in mind 15 years ago when I planned my very first Pink Pump event, which is a signature annual fundraiser for my nonprofit organization, Special Needs Network. And we leveled up the idea last year with our Evening Under the Stars Sneaker Ball, when we kicked off our new Center for Developmental Disabilities. People wore these knockout, absolutely stunning, cutting-edge designs pared with these fly sneakers, and they absolutely loved doing it. It subverted traditional expectations and upended gender stereotypes in the most joyful possible way.”

Erin:” I love that idea that fashion has the power to change the world! Our individuality is expressed through how we dress and the image we project to the world. Now shifting gears, tell us about your non-profit, Special Needs Network.

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