Interview with Marlon Hill

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Marlon Hill
Miami, FL, November 19, 2015
Interview asm0344000006
Interviewed by Julio Estorino
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Kriti Sood
Length: 00:33:35
Interview with Marlon Hill, international corporate and transactional attorney. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica and attended a Jesuit secondary school there. Marlon moved to Miami in the summer of 1985 and attended Miami Southridge High School, developing interests in geography, social studies and international affairs. Marlon went on to attend Florida State University where he majored in international business and minored in Spanish. After his undergraduate years, he attended law school and when he first practiced law, he worked part time at FIU studying international trade analysis and immigration law. Marlon worked with the Adorno & Zeder Law Offices. He initially specialized in appeals, but later moved to corporate law. As a transactions lawyer, he dealt with many fields including hospitality and the entertainment industry. Marlon is passionate about mentorship and is involved in many civic professional community organizations. He is a current board member of the Miami Foundation, the Miami Parking Authority, the Miami Book Fair, and the Orange Bowl Committee. He is also involved in the Caribbean Bar Association and continues to be an advisor for the Caribbean Students Association at FSU. He believes in acclimation, assimilation, and integration for civic engagement and uses a radio talk show to help execute this. He is currently a vice chair and partner with the law firm of Hamilton Miller & Birthisel.
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
 00:00:13: Introduction
 00:00:19: Please let us start at the beginning. Where were you born and how was your family background?
 00:01:07: How was your life in Jamaica as a boy and as a teenager?
 00:02:30: You attended Jesuit high school, right? And you had a lot of Jesuit education all over? What was your experience there?
 00:03:50: When and why did your family move to Miami?
 00:04:46: Was there a special reason for her to want to move to Miami?
 00:05:12: And what was your first impression of the United States and your first impression of immigration to the American culture?
 00:07:09: What would you say for you was the biggest difference between Jamaica and Miami?
 00:08:12: What made you decide to become a lawyer?
 00:09:37: Miami is recognized for its many big and powerful law firms. How difficult is it for a young minority lawyer to really be a member of the big law firms?
 00:11:16: This law firm that you are now in, it practices government, immigration, corporate law, intellectual property. Which of those aspects do you really like?
 00:13:12: Now, in a broader aspect, many experts say that the American judicial system is in need of reform, deep reform some say. Do you agree with that?
 00:15:59: Now, let’s talk about your civic involvement. What do you do as a mentor to young people, everybody who knows you and they say that he is a great mentor, he has dedicated a lot of time to it. What do you do and why does that appeal to you so much?
 00:16:40: The Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board for the southern United States. What kind of work do they do and what is your role there?
 00:19:05: After four years in the United States, how strong would you say is still your Jamaican identity?
 00:19:58: You are, or you have been, a member of many professional civic community organizations: The Miami Foundation, The Orange Bowl Committee, The Caribbean Bar Association, and you still keep your ties with the Caribbean Students Association at FSU. Tell us about that, how do you find all the time for all that?
 00:23:19: Speaking about assimilation and integration, some people say that integration is okay, but that is not so with assimilation. That if you assimilate, you lose or forget who you are in order to become a part of something different. Is that the way you see it?
 00:23:55: Now, you are also a radio talk show host. And what do you do there, what is your show about, what are your topics and how did you become interested in communications in radio and so on?
 00:26:24: You are also known for your interest in culture and the arts and the performing arts. What do you do –write, or paint that you might not be ready to show to others yet, but I am sure you do something like that?
 00:27:40: Now, you also like soccer. Do you practice or just watch?
 00:28:50: Who is best: Messi or Ronaldo?
 00:29:06: Now, besides Messi – what are the people that inspire you?
 00:30:25: Where do you see yourself in the future, maybe ten years from now? Have you ever given thought to politics?
 00:31:33: What will be your best piece of advice to young Caribbean men and women in the United States?
 00:32:58: Are we leaving out anything that you want to add to the interview?
 00:33:24: Thank you very much Mr. Hill.
 00:33:35: END OF INTERVIEW