Mahala Dickerson moved to Alaska in 1958 and became a historic first

Mahala Ashley Dickerson, an American lawyer and civil rights advocate, ventured from Montgomery, Alabama, to the landscapes of Alaska in 1958. Her journey extended beyond the legal profession to homesteading, making her a trailblazer in both fields. Born in 1912, Dickerson attended Fisk University and later earned her law degree from Howard University in 1945.

Following her legal education, Dickerson returned to Alabama, becoming the first Black female lawyer in the state in 1948. She dedicated the following six decades to her legal career, representing individuals who faced discrimination. Her career took her to Indiana and Alaska, where she broke additional barriers.

In 1958, Dickerson filed a claim for a 160-acre homestead in Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley near Wasilla, becoming the first Black homesteader in the state. A few months later, she became the first Black lawyer in Alaska by passing the Alaska Bar exam. Despite facing discrimination in Alaska, Dickerson remained committed to her profession, establishing law offices in both Wasilla and Anchorage.

Throughout her career, Dickerson overcame numerous challenges. In one notable case, she successfully argued for equal wages for female faculty members at the University of Alaska, setting a precedent. Her dedication earned her recognition beyond Alaska, including the Zeta Phi Beta Award for distinguished service in law in 1985 and the Margaret Brent Award from the American Bar Association in 1995.

Dickerson's life and career are documented in her autobiography, "Delayed Justice for Sale," published in 1998. In it, she reflected on her determination to fight against discrimination and her unyielding spirit. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of breaking barriers and fighting for justice.