Black women weigh in as Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing progresses
Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing is underway as she makes history as the first Black woman to be nominated for a spot on the Supreme Court.
Courtesy of Mims, Ruffin, and Hoods
(From left to right) Chloe Mims from Partners for Justice, Nakia Ruffin from Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, and Rhoda Hoods Boca Governor as they lend their voice to the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
March 22, 2022
Ketanji Brown Jackson could be the second woman of color ever to reside on the Supreme Court of the United States, and the first ever Black woman and public defender to reside over the court.
FAU alumni, students, and legal minds shared their thoughts after Jackson’s first day of her confirmation hearings.
Jackson graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School before receiving two degrees from Harvard University. She grew up with a school teacher, now school principal, mother and Miami-Dade school board lawyer father. Former legal aid and FAU alum Melissa Joseph sees Jackson’s Miami upbringing as an advantage.
“I think that it’s pretty awesome because you want a Supreme Court Justice to reflect the whole of the United States demographics, because you want them to have to understand the bias, understand the struggle and the good parts of being Black, brown, Asian, all types of different races and backgrounds,” said Joseph. “You want the Supreme Court Justice to reflect that.”
Prior to the confirmation hearing yesterday, Joseph was aware of microaggressions Jackson would face.
“President Biden picked a Black woman. ‘Is she qualified?’ That kind of irritates me to know because it’s not like she never went to law school,” said Joseph. “Ask her about some of the cases that she tried, not about her LSAT scores. I think it was Tucker Carlson who said that.”
The Judiciary Committee could make Jackson the sixth woman to serve on SCOTUS justices.
“It gives me more of a sense of hope and confidence that maybe I can do this one day. If it’s not me, I can show maybe the younger generations because I’m an elementary education major,” said Boca Governor Rhoda Hoods. “It was the same way when President Obama and his family were in office. We have a woman who is the speaker of the house [Nancy Pelosi] nationally, so things of that nature really make it so surreal, and I love it.”
As for legal minds, having a Black woman’s voice on the Supreme Court should not be the only qualification Americans should be focusing on.
Chloe Mims, a strategies and operations manager for Partners for Justice, is cautiously optimistic about Pres. Biden’s SCOTUS nominee. The nonprofit works alongside public defenders’ offices to provide resources for those who are unable to afford legal counsel.
“I’m always gonna be down for Black women but I can’t without a doubt say that,” said Mims. “She could be a ‘Candace Owens’, like I said, I don’t know much about her track record.”
Candace Owens is conservative talk show host and former spokeswoman for Turning Point USA. She has a self-titled talk show on The Daily Wire, conservative network.
However, Mims does believe that with her previous work as a public defender, Jackson may have the ability to shine light on the “horrible” criminal justice system that targets black and brown people.
“Knowing that she’s been a public defender, she’s worked within a community and as a Black woman I’m hoping that she understands how harmful the criminal justice system is and how predatory it is to people,” Mims said.
Nakia Ruffin, president of the Miramar-based Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, sees Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearing as pushing the needle forward.
“This is generations of hard work and dedication by black people in this country to get a Ketanji Brown Jackson,” said Ruffin. “We’ve had black women being attorneys in this country for over 100 years and do not make it to the Supreme Court.”
Ruffin, as an attorney herself, has mentees who relate to Jackson’s experience as a Black woman seeking a law career.
“[Jackson] had a guidance counselor tell her ‘you know, maybe it’s going to be too hard for you to get into Harvard.’” said Ruffin. “Most of my memories coming across the majority of Black attorneys I’ve talked to at one point have been told ‘you’re not good enough to do that’ or ‘maybe law school isn’t for you.’”
Judge Jackson’s “exemplary” record doesn’t limit her to her two Harvard degrees. She worked as a clerk under recently retired justice, Stephen G. Breyer.
“She [Jackson] is extremely qualified. The bottom line, she checks all the boxes, and you know what, she just happens to be a Black woman,” Ruffin said.
Judge Jackson’s first day of questioning will be airing at 9 a.m. EST until Thursday, March 24.
Kizzy Azcarate is the Student Life Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, tweet her @Kizzy_kinz or [email protected]
John Burl Smith • Mar 24, 2022 at 10:47 am
Young Voters/Students and Mental Health!!!
By John Burl Smith author of “The 400th From Slavery to Hip Hop!”
Back before “mad bomber” Joe Manchin and “tail gunner” Kyrsten Sinema, salvaged “Build Back Better,” a vitally needed social programs, and stabbed Pres. Biden in the back by stripping out and passing all corporate friendly projects, many Americans felt a different mentality would set policy in America. Hearing Manchin’s current rhetoric, if I didn’t know better, sounds as if he is making a grab for the “White House brass ring.” But his problem getting what he covets most is there will never be a “Joe Manchin” wing in the Democratic Party! Positioning himself as a roadblock to any Pres. Biden’s spending on social programs, like healthcare, climate change, and student debt, Manchin has “big eyes but very small hands.”
Healthcare/social programs, though originally conceded for elderly Americans, are far more for young voters/students, than drug prices and visits to the doctor. Young voters/students “are smarter than they look,” consequently, they read between the lines very well. There are numerous reports and surveys indicating “good mental health is essential.” Recently, Naomi Osaka drew world attention to the need for good mental health care, which is abysmal in the US for young voters/students, so I applaud Naomi’s stand. Also, as Shahem Mclaurin, “Black therapists struggle to share mental health knowledge on TikTok,” I will share just a little information (studies and other research), from across many disciplines, which place workforce mental health in the eye of the storm. For instance, one study found 84% of respondents believe “mental health benefits are important to them when seeking a new job.” That result has implications for employers, and perhaps is why workers are quitting jobs, while many jobs remain unfilled. However, the consternation of many students/young voters is that their futures depend on access to adequate healthcare before and after entering the workforce.
A study by Kaiser Permanente (Affordable Health Care Plan) says, “With workers’ mental healthcare at a historic low, employees today are struggling, whether from stress and burnout or severe mental health conditions; 84% say “mental health benefits are important to them when seeking a new job.” Loneliness and isolation, even before coronavirus swept the globe, was fueling America’s mental health crisis, but now following the 1/6 Capital insurrection, stress, uncertainty, fear, and anxiety coupled with chaos, Trump supporters are causing at election and school boards, mental health issues have skyrocketed. Invariably, employees/students/young voters are also experiencing new or heightened feelings of depression and anxiety, with the war in Ukraine. Watching helpless civilians braving bombs, raining on them, as the shadow of nuclear conflagration over us all in an insane effort Putin to rule the world, it is as though the world has gone crazy. I believe such a specter was in the corner of Pres. Biden’s eyes, when he proposed “Build Back Better!!!”
One study looked at the world’s mental health, “5 Common Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace” by Paul Bergeron (9/22/2021). He surveyed 21-countries and half of American adults said the pandemic had affected their mental health negatively, while 63% reported feelings either depressed or anxious or both. More than half (56%) of undergraduate students said their mental health suffered, due to COVID. A survey by “Chegg.org (Generation Hope) looked at 16,839 responses in October and November of 2020 and found 56% of undergraduate students 18–21, including 70% of Americans, Canadians, and British said their mental health had deteriorated. Moreover, at least 76% of Brazilian students said they were experiencing or suffered mental health issues.
Alarmingly, research among US students on mental health show 1,100 college students commit suicide every year, while 24,000 attempted to take their own lives, but were unsuccessful. College student mental health statistics, students are exposed to an inordinate amount of pressure and stress, negatively impacting their mental health. Experts confirm since the COVID-19 pandemic the situation has worsened, with increasing numbers of students treated for mental disorders, where 64% dropped out of college because of mental health problems (student debt plays a huge role). A recent survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found a strong correlation between the number of students who drop out of college and depression. It showed nearly two-thirds (64%) of college students in the US quit their studies because of mental disorders. The study revealed further 50% of those who dropped out never accessed mental health services. Here is where lives could be saved if Joe Manchin had allowed “Build Back Better,” to become law.
When teenagers leave home and enter new environments, they become vulnerable, and their mental health is at risk. Symptoms, in most cases, emerge between the ages of 18 and 24. According to college students and mental health statistics, 75% of mental health problems become apparent by age 24. One mental disorder that interferes with students’ academic success is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Between 2 to 8% of college students diagnosed with ADHD, have problems focusing, as well as paying attention, or study for exams. Additionally, severe symptoms of anxiety and depression increase for students struggling with ADHD.
College is a transition for students, as they adjust to new environments. Environmental stressors combined with a student’s predisposition, increases mental health issues and the risk of suicide. In fact, suicide rates among college students tripled from 2007 to 2018. Moreover, the rate of suicide among young people aged 10–24 jumped 60%. In 2019-2020, the rate of students receiving mental health services, who considered suicide, was 36.9%. Mental health on college campuses, between 2019 and 2020, indicate the number of students receiving mental health services that considered suicide was the highest during the past decade. The rate of suicidal ideation for 2010-2011was 24% and has increased gradually to 36.9% in 2019-2020.
Tragically, male college students are 4 to 6 times more likely to commit suicide than female college students. Self-harm and suicidal attempts are common consequences of anxiety and depression. Students who become despondent and feel hopeless are more likely to consider suicide. Over 90% of people who commit suicide have depression or substance abuse problems. Connections between increased depression and suicidal attempts are not coincidental. Accordingly, a 2018 study of 67,000 students, 9% had attempted suicide. Stats also show between 1,100 to 1,400 students per year take their own lives. Hence, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.
Finally, 30% of gay, bisexual or LGBTQ students aged 18–25 have attempted suicide. The rate of suicide among college students’ is higher among bisexual minorities. Recent data indicates gay, bisexual and LGBTQ college students are five times more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide. The high level of psychological distress, victimization, and homophobia is cited to explain why over a third of this populations’ attempts suicide! Mental pain is the most severe and is not a political football for Joe Manchin to kick around!!!