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Climbing Jacob’s Ladder NewSouth Books Jacob Smith, a prominent black lawyer and political and civil rights leader in New York in the segregated 1950s, was assassinated when his son, Jock, was eight years old. If this memoir told only of a child’s loving remembrance of his father (and a desire to follow in his footsteps, thus “Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”), it would be a success. But Jock Smith discovered he had a gift for public speaking and grew up to become a lawyer himself, a college professor, one of the first African-American assistant attorneys general in Alabama, and then a highly successful plaintiff’s lawyer, sports agent, sports memorabilia collector, and inspirational speaker. A persuasive idealist, Smith found that he could have the most impact on the disenfranchised within the court system. Through his advocacy, he has striven to better the lives of “the least of these.” This attorney has also amassed what may be the world’s largest personal collection of uniforms worn in games by sports stars, worth in the millions of dollars. Feeling the need to use this collection for good, Smith began a ministry of inspirational speaking to youth, demonstrating how lessons learned through sports apply to the real world. Smith also entwined his passion for sports with his legal talent and civil rights outlook to become an agent for black sports personalities, to ensure they get a bigger share in the industry. Now a national partner to super-lawyer Johnnie Cochran, Smith operates in a fascinating world of power, wealth, fame, and faith. Climbing Jacob’s Ladder tells it all: the awe-inspiring journey from childhood without a father to prominence on a national scale. Jock Smith is a great storyteller, and co-author Paul Hemphill is a great writer. Their collaboration brings us an insider’s view of the legal system, big-time sports collecting, contemporary black life, evangelism, and civil rights.
Reviews “It isn’t often that one sees such a powerful intersection of faith, vocation, and avocation as in this book about the life of Jock Smith as inspired by his late father, Jacob. We saw in the Civil Rights Movement that dedicated lawyers can redress society’s wrongs. This book depicting the legal victories of a committed advocate shows that this is still true.” “Jock Smith’s story is part history lesson and part sermon and one hundred percent fascinating. He and lawyers like his partner Johnnie Cochran are modern-day knights, using their skills to protect both the poor and defenseless. On a personal level, Climbing Jacob’s Ladder shows how faith and hard work can bring great success.” “I was moved by this story of how baseball forged a bond between a boy and his father and how those good memories inspired the son to become a successful lawyer who fights for justice. Climbing Jacob’s Ladder is a dramatic story and it reminds us that all the struggles of the past are not necessarily in the past. I found especially intriguing the account of how Jock Smith uses his sports collection in a ministry to motivate the young.” “The murder of Jacob Smith in 1957 cut short the promise of a fine legal career by a fine man and was a tragedy that deeply touched me personally. With this book and with his life, both a tribute to his father’s memory, Jock Smith has laid that tragedy to rest. This is a fine, moving account of how one becomes a lawyer, practices the profession, and lives a life of faith and commitment. It is also the story of God working through a young man, who was brought to national prominence in the area of law and who was guided to become a concerned man of conscience. A ‘must read.’ ”
Links Visit Jock Smith’s Web site at http://www.jocksmith.com/. Visit Paul Hemphill’s Web site at http://www.paulhemphill.net/.
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