Ketanji Brown Jackson: First Black Woman on the US Supreme Court
Jackson Jackson answers a question during her confirmation hearing in Washington DC on March 21 2022 daughters was a student Cruz said the book's premise stated that babies are racist and he asked Jackson if she agreed with that premise Cruz was trying to prove that Jackson supported teaching critical race theory that racism is a part of US history Many Republicans had spoken out against it If Cruz could get Jackson to say she supported it then he and other Republicans could declare she was not qualified for the Supreme Court
Jackson sighed and paused for a moment The question had little to do with her work as a lawyer and a judge or what she might bring to the Supreme Court It didn't have a connection to her position as a school board member either She had no control over the school's curriculum But she knew she had to answer honestly and keep her cool She leaned toward the microphone I do not believe that any child should be made to feel as though they are racist or though they are not valued or though they are less than that they are victims that they are oppressors she said calmly I don't believe in any of that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas brought pages of Antiracist Baby to display while questioning Jackson
The Major Parties The US has two major political parties the Democratic and Republican Parties Democrats are usually more liberal and believe the government should do more for citizens Republicans are usually more conservative and believe the government should step back and let individuals take more responsibility for themselves But Cruz wasn't satisfied He held up another children's book about racism He read passages to Jackson and then asked her whether she agreed This time Jackson didn't hesitate Senator she said I have not reviewed any of those books any of those ideas They don't come up in my work as a judge which I am respectfully here to address Jackson smiled as she spoke but her words were serious Clearly she could lead under pressure advocate for herself and respect others These qualities made her a standout candidate for the Supreme Court Standout Student Jackson was born Ketanji Onyika Brown on September 14 1970 in Washington DC Her parents Johnny and
The US Capitol Building center in Washington DC Ellery Brown picked her name from a list sent to them by her aunt a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa Ketanji Onyika means lovely one and honors the family's African heritage Ketanji's parents were both teachers But when Ketanji was three the family moved so her father could go to law school in Miami Florida As a preschooler she sat next to him at the dining room table with a stack of coloring books to match his stack of law books It was the beginning of her interest in studying the law Growing up in Florida Ketanji enjoyed working hard to do her best whether she was studying or pursuing her hobbies She played piano for several years and loved
