WASHINGTON – Ketanji Brown Jackson was in elementary school when her mother enrolled the future Supreme Court justice in a public speaking program.
Jackson, the high court’s most junior justice, is on a media blitz to promote her new memoir, “Lovely One.” Becoming the first Black woman Supreme Court justice in 2022 had generated a wave of curiosity about the details of her life, she wrote in the book.
Jackson was worried that the Supreme Court spotlight would bring unwanted attention to her children, giving both daughters a chance to tell her if they would prefer that she stay on the D.C.
Leila, who had sent a handwritten letter to President Barack Obama in 2016 asking him to consider her mother for the high court, gave her approval.
Jackson won’t dish on the court What Jackson hasn’t been chatty about – in either the book or her public appearances to promote it – is her two years on the court.
She’s been equally circumspect about the ethics controversies dogging the court, including revelations that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose receiving millions of dollars’ worth of free luxury trips and other gifts.
“Do you have any flags you like to fly?” Colbert asked Jackson.
`Step into our greatness’ But Orandra Cotton, a retired social worker who was among the enthusiastic listeners at the Kennedy Center, was not reticent to offer her review of the Supreme Court.
Cotton said she has lost respect for the court because of recent rulings “that have been so un-American” as well as other “shenanigans.” “I feel betrayed,” she said.
“This is the place to be tonight,” she said before Jackson spoke, pointing to her many Black female friends at the Kennedy Center.
WASHINGTON – The future Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s mother signed her up for a public speaking class when she was in elementary school.
The roughly 2,000-person crowd that erupted in a standing ovation as Jackson entered the concert hall stage of the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night heard her say, “She wanted me to get out there and use my voice.”.
These days, her voice is frequently heard.
In an attempt to promote her new memoir, “Lovely One,” Jackson, the most junior justice on the high court, is going on a media tour. “.
She wrote in the book that after she was appointed as the first Black woman justice of the Supreme Court in 2022, there was a surge in interest in the specifics of her life.
Reporters investigated her family history following her nomination, as well as that of her spouse, whose earliest ancestors traveled across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, whereas Jackson’s ancestors had been transported from Africa in chains.
Jackson received an abundance of handcrafted items and personalized artwork, such as a doll made in her likeness that played a clip of her post-confirmation statement, which read, “I have now achieved something far beyond anything that my grandparents could possibly ever imagine.” Jackson also received a barrage of letters in addition to these gifts. “.
According to Jackson’s letter, she wanted to be the one to share the story of how she rose to the nation’s highest court because she could see why people would be curious.
The memoir talks about how her parents instilled in her a strong sense of pride in her African heritage, as evidenced by her name, Ketanji Onyika, which translates to “lovely one” in an African dialect, and a never-say-die attitude.
Regarding her parents’ insistence that nothing was insurmountable if she put in the necessary effort, she wrote, “I distinctly remember thinking that other parents seemed so much more cuddly than mine.”.
describing her own experience.
She writes about the impact of being one of the few Black students in her classes, her interracial marriage to a surgeon, the challenges of being a new mother, and raising an autistic daughter while describing her ascent up the success ladder.
Given that both of her daughters would have the opportunity to let her know if they would rather that she remain on the D.C, Jackson was concerned that the Supreme Court spotlight would draw unpleasant attention to her children. Appeals Circuit Court.
Leila gave her approval, recalling how she had asked President Barack Obama in a handwritten letter in 2016 to consider her mother for the high court. Talia, a young adult at the time of Jackson’s 2022 nomination, concurred, saying it was critical to be open about her struggles with autism and her condition at school.
Talia told her mother, “It’s not like I have anything to be ashamed about.”.
Jackson is not going to cheat on the court.
In the book and during her promotional appearances, Jackson has refrained from discussing anything personal, including her two years on the court.
When questioned about the recent ruling by the conservative majority that granted former President Donald Trump broad immunity for his acts during his presidency, Jackson’s public criticism of the ruling has been considerably more restrained than her joint dissent with the court’s other two liberal justices or her dissent on her own.
She has also shown caution in response to the ethical disputes that have dogged the court, such as the disclosure that Justice Clarence Thomas concealed receiving gifts and free luxury travel valued at millions of dollars.
Although Jackson did not object to the court’s ethics code being strengthened, she has not stated whether she is in favor of President Joe Biden’s other reform proposal, which would have limited the justices’ terms to 18 years.
She said to PBS New Hour, “I’m going to let the political process play out.”. People are deliberating over this choice at the moment, and it will be interesting to see what we end up choosing. “.
Additionally, she refused to give in when late-night host Stephen Colbert brought up the recent controversy surrounding political flags flown at Justice Samuel Alito’s residences.
Colbert questioned Jackson, “Do you have any flags you like to fly?”.
She laughed and replied, “No comment.”.
Arise to our magnificence.
But among the eager listeners at the Kennedy Center was retired social worker Orandra Cotton, who was not shy about sharing her assessment of the Supreme Court.
Because of recent decisions “that have been so un-American” and other “shenanigans,” Cotton claimed she has lost respect for the court. “.
She uttered, “I feel deceived.”. However, Cotton stated of Jackson, “I know she’s going to make the right decision. “.
Cotton said she never expected to see a Black woman on the Supreme Court. Cotton was dressed in pink Converse tennis shoes and pearls in homage to the signature look of another Black woman attempting to make history, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Pointing to her numerous Black female friends at the Kennedy Center, she declared, “This is the place to be tonight,” before Jackson began. “Despite everything, we keep moving toward greatness.”. “.
