Chrissandra Jallah - the sky is the limit
Chrissandra Jallah is an aspiring lawyer. She currently works at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Below is her story.
equilibreyaum: War Eagle, Chrissie! Tell me a little about your background. Where did you grow up? Did you always dream of attending Auburn University?
Chrissandra Jallah: I was born here in America but my parents are West African (Liberia & Nigeria). Georgia has been home since my childhood. My dream was actually to attend Harvard (which seems crazy now). I had never heard of Auburn University until high school. My brother attended a football camp there and suggested we take a tour when I was looking at colleges. We missed the group tour and ended up on a private tour of the university. I left that day knowing that's where I wanted to be.
eqb: What did you study in college? When did you decide that becoming a lawyer was the right path for you?What type of lawyer are you becoming and what does it take to get there?
CJ: I majored in political science and minored in Africana studies. Becoming a lawyer was something I knew I wanted since I was young. It was solidified in high school as I watched members of my family battle the immigration process. My goal is to become a family lawyer, though my interests include social justice and public policy. I have my law degree and the final step is to pass the bar exam. Once I have my license, the sky is the limit.
eqb: Best of luck to you. You currently work as a Grand Jury Clerk at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, what's that like for you? What’s the most rewarding/challenging part about your job?
CJ: My job keeps me busy and on my toes. I'm responsible for making sure we have a smooth process, from the time the subpoena is sent to the jurors being dismissed. My inbox doesn't stay empty for long, though my phone rings a whole lot less due to COVID. The most challenging part is making sure officers actually show up for their scheduled hearing. The most rewarding part is the team I work with. I'm grateful for their patience, assistance and friendship.
eqb: The new DA for Fulton County is a Black woman! Tell me how seeing Black women in leadership roles inspires you and your career/life. Is there a specific woman that has inspired your own journey?
CJ: DA Willis is a force to be reckoned with, truly. I could not have imagined that I would be working at an office making history in this way. Seeing Black women in leadership roles make my dreams seem more tangible and realistic. The legal field is heavily male dominated, with an even smaller number of black people. It takes a lot to shake off that imposter syndrome and believe you belong. The women in my family, particularly my mother and my aunts have inspired me to keep working and stay the course for my journey. The legal career of VP Kamala Harris is also inspiring to me. I understand the issues with her work but her journey is inspiring nonetheless.
“I will not applaud the people who are genuinely listening, because that is something they should be doing anyway. It’s the right thing to do. I will applaud those who are continuing to educate in a way that I cannot and will not. In the end, we don’t simply want inclusivity. We want equality.”
eqb: What do you think about Georgia turning blue this past election? Do you think we can attribute this win to Black women and Stacey Abrams?
CJ: Georgia turning blue was monumental. It's been almost 30 years of red, due largely in part to voter suppression. We can absolutely attribute this win both to Black women and Stacey Abrams. Who else? Her election was stolen but Abrams came back and swept up this state. She inspired people across all demographics to become politically involved. Black women did the WORK and it will to be talked about for years to come. I'm nervous for the foolery the Georgia House is trying to pull because of her work but I'm excited to see what she does next!
eqb: So am I! 2020 was an especially tough year for Black people. What emotions were you feeling when the news cycle was just non-stop? How did you deal with them? Did you join any BLM protests?
CJ: I don't think there's any emotion I DIDN'T feel during this past year. It's been a mix of sadness, anxiety, empathy, annoyance, hopelessness and anger. There's been lots of crying. We are consistently bombarded with images of Black people being harmed in the media. That does something to a person; it's unsettling to the spirit. I coped by limiting my time watching the news. I stayed aware of current events but I did my best not to let myself be consumed by everything. I went through a period of being extremely angry and hostile on social media several years ago. I was arguing with everyone and their mother, dragging their ugly opinions and ignorant posts. After realizing it was negatively affecting my mental health and wellbeing, I stopped posting.
Though I wanted to, I did not join any BLM protests. Atlanta was lit up with them and honestly, I was afraid to be around the police. That probably sounds crazy because I am around them consistently at work but that is a totally different setting. I was not prepared for the possibility of being arrested or harmed. Instead, I made myself available to assist family and friends who participated.
“The legal field is heavily male dominated, with an even smaller number of black people. It takes a lot to shake off that imposter syndrome and believe you belong.”
eqb: Do you feel the attempts to "listen" and be more inclusive for Black people are genuine? If so/not, why/why not?
CJ: I think some of the attempts are genuine and some are for appearances. It is absolutely exhausting having to explain things about Black people, our history and our experiences. We have shared so much of it that all it takes is a quick Google search to find it if you care enough. It is mental and emotional labor that we have given for FREE. We have been gaslit for years and treated as if we are a problem. Now that it's popular or on brand to listen, people are allegedly opening their ears. It's very gross. The fear of being "cancelled" had companies, brands and people posting black squares and showing us they actually had black models/creators/staff etc. Where are they now? What actions have they taken? What money have they donated? Who in their circle have they helped to educate?
I will not applaud the people who are genuinely listening, because that is something they should be doing anyway. It's the right thing to do. I will applaud those who are continuing to educate in a way that I cannot and will not. In the end, we don't simply want inclusivity. We want equality.
eqb: As a future lawyer, what is one law/policy that you'd like to challenge and why? Is there a law/policy that you'd like to enforce and why?
CJ: Wow, this is a hard question. I think we need to abolish the death penalty. There are too many people who are tried and wrongfully convicted in this country. Additionally, a disproportionate number of those who receive the death penalty are black. It's not something I can advocate for in good conscience. I don't have any particular law or policy I'd like to enforce. I do, however, wish the law was equally applied to celebrities and politicians. Many of them get a slap on the wrist while civilians are excessively punished. Their money and power affords them a form of privilege and leniency that is not deserved.
eqb: In 2020, people slowed down and paid more attention to themselves and thier passions. Tell me about your passion, "Captured by Chris". What are your plans for the future?
CJ: Photography is something I've been doing since I was a teenager. I carried a small pink camera in my purse wherever I went. My mom helped me get my first DSLR in college and that was the first time I realized I could be paid to do something I found fun and interesting. After lots of practice and procrastination, I created Captured by Chris, LLC. Portraits and events are the main things I shoot but I have a desire to dabble in beauty and brand photography. I plan to shoot the things I've been too afraid to tackle and share my work more on social media.
eqb: Thank you for sharing your story with us! Anything else you'd like to share?
CJ: Ask for what you want; the worst anyone can tell you is no. Don't be afraid to try things you're interested in; you never know what you may discover about yourself.
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