Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecile Scoon.
Hi Cecile, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was raised in the Caribbean until I was 15. My dad was a naturalized US citizen but was born in Grenada. He married my mom from Virginia and had four kids. In the Caribbean, my dad was a Peace Corps director. It was wonderful living in the islands from age 11-15. Almost every one of importance was Black or Brown, the governor-general, the legislators, store owners and professionals. When I returned to the states at 15, I had culture shock. Here the world was opposite to what I lived in the Caribbean. White people were in charge of everything and seemed to own most things of high value. I was watching what was going on around me as an observer and I began my journey of trying to understand what being Black in America really meant as it was imprinted on me what it meant to be Black in a land run by Black and Brown people.
After taking some African American history classes in college and lobbying my school, with other students, to divest from South Africa as they had apartheid, I decided to become a civil rights attorney and try to help other people as I had been helped by the sacrifices of those who fought for civil rights in the States. I was very aware of the gifts that I had received from others. It has been my great joy to try to bring dignity, a listening ear, and a legal remedy to people mistreated at work because of what they look like.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Many times I have felt alone and overworked and overwhelmed. That is when I think about historical civil rights icons and tell myself that their sacrifices and effort was so much greater than mine. Part of the struggle is that there are not many civil rights lawyers in Florida so that it can be difficult to share stories and support each other. I remedied that by joining a super supportive professional association of lawyers in Florida that do the same work that I do. They provide amazing support and advice.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a two-person mom-and-pop law firm. My law partner was my classmate in law school and my teammate on the soccer pitch after law school classes were over. He and I both played varsity soccer at college and I played on the mens’ team in law school and when I was in the Air Force.
My best soccer buddy became my husband and we have a small, very community-centered law firm in the small town of Panama City, FL, between Tallahassee and Pensacola. We try to tend to the legal woes of people who are often squashed by unfair systems or unfair treatment. I focus on employment discrimination and my husband does criminal defense and personal injury.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love art and music. My undergraduate degree was in Visual Arts. Basically a precursor to work as a designer architect or museum curator. Sometimes when I am in a museum, I can be moved to tears.
Contact Info:
- Email: cmscoon1@knology.net
Image Credits
First picture of me made by Photographs by Vergil. Second of my husband and me by Mechelle Grady, friend.
