Creating History: Ketanji Brown- Jackson
She didn’t walk casually or comfortably to her destination. She battled discrimination, roadblocks, storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more natural and manufactured disasters.
As I sat on one of the many comfortable donut-shaped seats in the Community Center, Ashely and Sandra walked by commenting on the newest Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Ashely beamed with pride, “isn’t that cute. Her husband was wiping away tears of joy.”
“Or tears of jealousy,” her friend Sandra released, swaying her upper body west to east.
Halting suddenly, Ashley asks, “why would he be jealous. He is a surgeon himself, and he is proud of his wife’s accomplishment of more than twenty years.”
Walking a few feet ahead, Sandra stopped and remarked, “You don’t know what’s inside the hearts of some of these…..” she stopped suddenly, ducking the missile that was hurling her way.
Someone grabbed Ashley before she could shoot another one, and a stern voice counseled, “Don’t, she has never tasted real love. So, she wouldn’t understand.”
Instinctively swaying right to see who it was, Ashely dropped her other shoe.
Mrs.Millard, the center’s Coordinator, shared, “Looking at her, her family, and her parents, I see love and happiness?”
“Yeah,” Ashely agreed, glancing at Sandra nearby in disgust as one of the children hands her the other foot of her shoes. “I felt their joy and pride raising a child who made them proud and has created history for her country and race.”
“Examine her life,” Mrs. Millard suggested. “It was a hell of a fight for her to get to her destination, and she is still sane and happy. Didn’t you see how ecstatic she was? No hatred or resentment is in her heart.” Turning to Sandra, she asked, “Can’t you feel the devotion and gratitude? I can.”
“I felt it,” Ashely said.
“Look,” Sandra attempted an explanation. “All I am saying is that his tears could be of anything but joy.”
Mrs. Millard pulled her aside as Ashley reached for her shoe. Then said, “Young lady, you got an opportunity to see history as it plays out. We should be rejoicing, not condemning.”
“Yeah,” Ashely adds.
“Plus,” Mrs. Millard continued. “Where there is genuine affection and true happiness, envy can’t survive. Looking at her parents, you see more than fifty years of bliss. So, you know she came from love.”
“Well, I don’t believe his tears are real,” she fought back. “Don’t I have a right to my opinion.”
“Oh yes,” Ashley agreed. “Even the negative and stupid ones.”
“I believe his tears are real,” a small voice interjects, throwing cold water on the heat generated from their argument. All eyes curved into that direction, viewing five young girls of various ages. About twelve, the oldest informed, “being the first African American female to be in this position, my heart was filled with pride and joy while watching with my mom and grandmother. I see hope for females of our race. My mom hugged me and cried.”
“I see victory for women of our race.”
“I see strength.”
“I see change.”
“I see a better America,” the last child said.
Mrs. Millard eased closer to Ashley and whispered, “Is she always this negative?”
“Negativity and stupidity are going to kill you,” Ashely warned Sandra, walking away with one shoe in her hand and the other on her right foot.
Negativity is a seed planted in the minds of many. Some of us water it with stupidity and self-hatred, allowing it to grow.
I watched the news, and I saw tears of joy. Supreme Court Justice Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s husband, Dr. Patrick Jackson, is one of the few who knew and shared her pain and struggles. He knows everything about her journey. His tears were of joy, respect, and appreciation. I could tell how proud he was of her success.
She didn’t walk casually or comfortably to her destination. She battled with discrimination, roadblocks, storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more natural and manufactured disasters. As a person of color, I can tell you, her journey was far from heaven. But she arrived with dignity and grace.
Wisdom, proficiency, understanding, and experience are a few of the positive attributes accompanying her on this journey. Also, of life and what she had endured because of her skin color. Her route wasn’t an easy one. Her knowledge and history are rich in strength and endurance. Her race wasn’t a stumbling block for her.
I congratulate her on a job well done. I wish her success and happiness.
Hatred can destroy love, but it will eliminate itself in the process. Love will conquer hate and save itself in the process. Love is healthier every time.
Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoy it and will savor more from some talented writers on this platform.
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