Ritha Pierre’s The Road to Esquire: Black Women, Motherhood, and the Law

UNSTOPPABLE WOMEN 2025

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The road to becoming a lawyer is as demanding as it is transformative. It begins with long nights of study that rely more on determination than rest. It moves through exams that stretch every part of you and it crescendos with the Bar, the gateway to the profession and the title of Esquire. From there, it extends into practice, long hours, client needs, and the responsibility of standing as an advocate for others.

For Black women who are also mothers, the journey carries another layer. The work of justice intersects with the work of raising children, nurturing families, guiding futures, and finding a sense of self in the middle of it all. To hold the title of Esquire in those circumstances is to carry purpose and pressure at the same time. It is sacrifice and privilege in equal measure.

For some, the title is a milestone. For others, like Ritha Pierre, Esq., it is a mission.

Her book, The Road to Esquire: Black Women, Motherhood, and the Law, brings that mission forward in its fullest form. The book illuminates the realities of navigating motherhood throughout a legal career, of carrying personal dreams alongside professional demands, and of finding one’s way through systems that were not necessarily designed with Black women in mind.

The Spark of an Idea

Originally, The Road to Esquire was meant to be about Pierre’s personal journey. She shares, "I actually came up with the title and concept back in 2009 when I was a student at Fordham Law School. Law school wasn’t the easiest for me. I was navigating health challenges, custody issues, and raising a toddler as a single mom. On top of that, I was dealing with the pressure of being the first-generation, soon-to-be lawyer in my family. I was stretched thin, literally just trying to survive, while still holding onto my desire to be a humanitarian and a social justice warrior."

Ritha wanted to show the truth of her experience. "It wasn’t polished or perfect, but it was real. I wanted people to know that although it’s not easy, if you want something bad enough, it can happen."

Life continued, but the vision never left her. She kept the outline stored in the notes app of her phone, ready for the day when the moment felt right. Then, in 2021, while hosting a podcast, a conversation shifted everything. Pierre met a woman who had just compiled an anthology and was seeking a platform to share it. That moment revealed a new path.

"That conversation sparked the idea to turn The Road to Esquire into an anthology instead of a solo memoir. While I believe my story is powerful, I realized that a collective of perspectives would be even more impactful and could spark greater change."

As Ritha grew in her career, she noticed a trend among her peers. "Many of my friends and colleagues were questioning whether they even wanted to be lawyers anymore. We were all dealing with burnout, microaggressions, racism, and the weight of constantly having to prove ourselves. I felt, now more than ever, that Black women needed to come together. We have so much to learn from one another, and we can lean on each other for support."

What Ritha did not have, she wanted others to receive. "I wasn’t given a blueprint. I am a child of immigrants. My parents didn’t speak English, so I didn’t get homework help growing up. I didn’t have a leg up. It was God, hard work, and resilience that got me through. And it’s clear that so many others walked a similar road."

"That’s why this anthology exists, so we can illuminate the path for others, together."

A Collective Testament

The Road to Esquire: Black Women, Motherhood, and the Law is a deeply personal and necessary work. It brings together twelve Black women in law whose stories reveal the intersections of motherhood, identity, purpose, and professionalism. The essays explore what it means to build a legal career while carrying the responsibilities of motherhood, to lose and rediscover oneself, to confront systemic barriers, and to redefine success and motherhood in ways that honor personal truth.

The chapters move through themes such as burnout and renewal, the quiet work of self-advocacy, the emotional cost of microaggressions, the weight of grief, the joy of arrival, the courage it takes to keep going, and the freedom found in rewriting expectations. Together, these narratives create a portrait of Black womanhood and excellence in law that is expansive, complex, honest, and powerful.

Ritha reflects on the bond that holds these women together. "The thread that connects all of the women in this book is unshakable determination. Despite the different paths we’ve taken, the unique challenges we’ve faced, and the diverse backgrounds we come from, every woman in this anthology made the decision to keep going, even when the odds were stacked against her."

She adds, "There’s also a deep sense of purpose that runs through these stories. Whether it is fighting for justice, showing up for our families, healing from trauma, or creating space for others, we each carried a mission bigger than ourselves."

In sharing their truths, the contributors are doing more than telling stories. They are, as Ritha explains, "rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a Black woman in law."

Becoming Unstoppable

One of the most powerful threads in this book is the inner work required to continue on a path that can feel both inspiring and exhausting. The women in these pages speak not only about the demands of law and motherhood, but also about the mindset shifts, boundaries, and moments of truth that shape their ability to move forward. Their stories echo the emotional and mental work Ritha has navigated in her own life, work that has shaped both her purpose and the creation of this book.

She shares that for many years she was operating in a state of constant survival. "For a long time, I operated in survival mode, just going through the motions and rolling with the punches. I never fully understood the power of having a healthy mindset. Because of that, I didn’t set proper boundaries. I allowed myself to be overworked, overlooked, and disrespected. I let the opinions of others define me, especially in the workplace, which fueled imposter syndrome and led to missed opportunities. I undervalued myself and felt stuck. I wasn’t free, I was suffocating in workspaces that no longer aligned with who I was. I ignored the signs, stayed in misalignment, and slowly drifted away from my purpose and my why."

Her transformation reflects the internal journey found throughout the book, where women confront expectations placed on them, rediscover their identities, and work toward lives that honor their well-being as much as their ambition. Ritha explains, "Now, as I work to truly master my mindset, and I’m still on that journey, I’m beginning to see the light. I’m breathing a little easier. I feel like I’m finally rediscovering my why, and it’s giving me a renewed sense of freedom and direction."

Her journey sits alongside the journeys of the contributors, forming a collective reminder that becoming unstoppable is not about never breaking. It is about choosing alignment, reclaiming one’s voice, and finding the courage to keep becoming, even when the path is difficult. Their stories, together, illuminate what personal restoration and professional resilience can look like.

A New Roadmap

The Road to Esquire is not just a book. It is a community, and an offering to women who navigate ambition, faith, and identity in spaces where they have often been unseen.

Ritha hopes the book will remind women that "they are not alone" and help them recognize that "they are enough." She wants every reader to know, "They don’t just have to be grateful to be in the room, they deserve to be there. They have earned their place."

She sees the book as the beginning of something larger. She is already working to expand this work through live events, digital resources, and future volumes, all centered on ensuring that the stories of Black women in law are seen, heard, and preserved.

This collection offers guidance for those beginning the journey, comfort for those in the middle of it, and affirmation for anyone who has ever felt unseen, underestimated, or overwhelmed. It creates space for the full complexity of being a Black woman, a mother, and an attorney in America.

About Ritha Pierre

Ritha Pierre is an attorney, speaker, and creative force committed to breaking barriers and shifting narratives through law, media, and entrepreneurship. As the author of The Road to Esquire anthology series and a documentarian, she curates bold, purpose-driven stories that amplify the voices of Black women and marginalized communities. Fueled by innovation, resilience, and an unwavering belief in justice, Ritha is an unstoppable agent of social change.

Contributors to The Road to Esquire: Black Women, Motherhood, and the Law include: 

Ritha Pierre, Esq., Professor Leah Aileen Hill, Nikia E. Thorpe, Esq., Amanda Williams, Esq., Marly Marcellus-Laurent, Esq., Christina M. Carroll, Esq., Yevedzo Chitiga, Esq., Loudie V. Srebnick, Esq., Tamika Stembridge, Esq., Jobyna Terry Mapp, Esq., Melissa D. Medilien, Esq., Quinterra Sherman, and Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn.

The Road to Esquire: Black Women, Motherhood, and the Law is available on Amazon. Connect with Ritha Pierre, Esq. on LinkedIn.

Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity, flow, and length.