Derrick Parker Jr. just graduated from Harvard Law School, and according to his Facebook page, he’s his “ancestors’ wildest dreams.”
We can’t help but be inclined to agree.
From a young age, Parker always seemed destined for success.
Originally from Kansas City, MO, Parker came up in humble circumstances. His father was a barber, and his mother was a factory worker. Despite these circumstances, they saved enough money to send him to Lincoln College Preparatory Academy.
While there, Parker was 1st Chair Trombone in both the jazz band and wind ensemble.
But that’s not all the Harvard Law School graduate achieved.
He was also elected Senior Class President, Homecoming King, Prom King, and was also 1st Team All-Conference starting quarterback on the football team.
In 2018, he graduated from Morehouse College as the valedictorian before heading off to Harvard Law School. While at Morehouse, he graduated as the highest-ranking scholar in his class, a junior inductee into Phi Beta Kappa, a Rhodes Scholar, and a Truman Scholar Finalist.
Even his admission into Harvard Law School was marked by excellence.
He was one of the youngest students in his class, and one of the youngest ever admitted into the joint Trial Law program that the Ivy League college has with NYU.
Parker was also on the executive board of the Black Law Students Association and also a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. He spent one summer working for Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP in New York City, and another summer working for Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, also in New York City.
Most recently, according to his LinkedIn page, he was the judicial extern to the Honorable Duane Benton in Missouri.
There’s no question that whatever Parker decides to do in his future, he will be a great success. Congratulations are in order to this bright, talented, Harvard-educated young Black man!
