This book provides a detailed account of exactly that. It tells us all we could ever wish to know about her and her journey to the highest court in the land. The story begins with a bright young girl, showing obvious talent from the start, and parents who had big dreams for their daughter. It is the story of a dark-skinned girl navigating the world of white privilege, a girl who worked incredibly hard—constantly—to be the best person, daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, lawyer, and judge she could possibly be.
While her success is undeniable, the moments I enjoyed most were those of struggle, when things did not go according to Ketanji’s plan. For example, she returned to work just four months after her first child was born, juggling the demands of being everything to everyone, just as many of us do. In that way, Ketanji seemed quite unlike any judge I had ever imagined; she was more like me than I could have ever anticipated. She struggled with breastfeeding, finding childcare, giving 100% to her job and her daughter, and was haunted by guilt every minute of the day.
She also faced challenges as a parent of a child with autism, as it took years to have her daughter properly diagnosed and placed in a suitable school where she could excel. I learned as much about autism spectrum disorder from this book as I did about the law. Additionally, she encountered legal troubles within her family: her paternal uncle was imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole for selling drugs, due to the Clinton-era Three Strikes and You’re Out rule. In short, life has not always been a bed of roses for Justice Jackson.
The processes and procedures involved in being shortlisted and ultimately selected as a Supreme Court Justice are fascinating and worth reading about. She details everything from the references she needed to provide to the questions she faced during interviews. It is all here for any young woman considering following in her footsteps! As Vice President Kamala Harris recently said, “I might be the first, but I won’t be the last!” This book serves as a template for all young women, especially women of colour, who dream of donning the SCOTUS black robe. And when they get there, Ketanji Brown Jackson will welcome them with a smile and open arms.
This is an inspiring book, and I recommend it to everyone, especially women and daughters everywhere.
The processes and procedures involved in being shortlisted and ultimately selected as a Supreme Court Justice are fascinating and worth reading about. She details everything from the references she needed to provide to the questions she faced during interviews. It is all here for any young woman considering following in her footsteps! As Vice President Kamala Harris recently said, “I might be the first, but I won’t be the last!” This book serves as a template for all young women, especially women of colour, who dream of donning the SCOTUS black robe. And when they get there, Ketanji Brown Jackson will welcome them with a smile and open arms.
This is an inspiring book, and I recommend it to everyone, especially women and daughters everywhere.
Michelle Burrowes
04 Nov 2024
