6 minute read
Monumental Moment
COMMONS WIKIMEDIA OF COURTESY PHOTO
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
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The Impact of Judge Jackson’s Infl uence
BY PRITI LAKHANI // PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRENTON BUSH
On April 7, 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the fi rst African American woman to be confi rmed for the Supreme Court in its 233-year history. While the percentage of female lawyers has increased in the last 10 years, gains among people of color are minimal. Only 2% of all lawyers are African American women. Given these statistics, Jackson as the fi rst to be confi rmed to SCOTUS is especially meaningful from a national perspective. What does it mean to local attorneys, and students of law, especially women?
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Cheryl Nelson Butler
– Chery Nelson Butler
Cheryl Nelson Butler, a visiting assistant professor of law at Washburn University, studied at Harvard with Jackson.
“As an African American female lawyer and law professor, it was empowering to witness the confi rmation of my college classmate,” Butler says.
“Judge Jackson has reminded us that we must persist in making our profession more inclusive. Women and people of color are qualifi ed, competent and motivated to excel in the legal profession and to break down barriers. … Many of my law students are excited to join a profession that is becoming more inclusive.”
Female students were thrilled to see the confi rmation and conveyed that this was a long time coming.
Audrey Nelson, a graduating law student from University of Kansas, served as president of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council. Like Jackson, she will begin her career as a public defender in Topeka.
“I hope that Justice Jackson’s appointment to the Supreme Court inspires more women, especially women of color, to pursue the legal profession,” Nelson says.
“This profession is so tightly gatekept with all the requirements to get in, stay in and become a member of the bar. While changes obviously need to be made at an institutional level, I hope young women see Justice Jackson on the Supreme Court and are inspired to follow in her footsteps.”
– Audrey Nelson
Audrey Nelson
Audriana Berry Dunn, an African American law student at Washburn, shed light on a surprising outcome of the confi rmation. Jackson has increased the public’s consciousness on what it a professional lawyer looks like, not just by the color of her skin, but also by her hairstyle. Dunn was told that her braids were unprofessional, and she needed to get a wig. After the confi rmation, things changed.
“If a member of the Supreme Court can wear sister locks, so can I,” she says.
The history of natural black hair being a race issue started in the 1700s, when Louisiana’s governor signed what was known as the “Tignon law,” requiring Black women to wrap their heads in scarves so they could be more easily identifi ed as enslaved people. As recently as March 2022, the bill H.R. 2116, known as the “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” (CROWN) was passed, banning hair-related discrimination. Jackson wore her sister locks proudly on the day of her confi rmation.
– Sim Johal
Sim Johal, a law student at KU, had a singular, overwhelming feeling during the nomination: Finally.
“There have been very few women, people of color, let alone many women of color on the Court. It should have happened sooner than 2022. Justice Jackson’s demeanor and responses to questions were incredible,” Johal says.
“Jackson’s nomination made me emotional. It made me realize that although this country has a lot of work to do, this was one step in the right direction. It made me proud to be a woman of color pursuing my dreams of having a legal education. It makes me hopeful for generations in the future interested in law.”
Many marginalized populations everywhere were lifted on April 7. While Jackson may be the fi rst black woman to ascend to the Supreme Court wearing natural hair, it is certain she will not be the last. n
Best Vacations:
By Car, By Ship, By Foot, Once in a Lifetime
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”¹ – Unknown
Provided by Christopher A. Adams
BRUCE
YourFinancialWorldInOrder
If travel for you is less about escaping life and more about living it, then consider these vacation ideas:
By Car
EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA: There may be no better way to experience this amazing continent than by driving along its east coast, stretching from Melbourne in the south to Cairns to the north. This 2,500-mile drive carries you through rainforests, cities, mountains, and the outback, with the blue waters of the Pacific as a constant companion. Be sure to carve out time for the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking along the way.
By Ship
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: For hundreds of years explorers tried, and failed, to find the fabled Northwest Passage. Travelers can now discover what eluded so many brave adventurers. Begin your journey in Greenland, sail past its fjords, and you’re on your way. As you penetrate deep into the Arctic, you’ll scrape against icebergs and marvel at the harshness and sublime beauty at the top of the world. But, it’s not just ice. See the remains of explorations that came before you and the polar bears that call this home.
By Foot
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO, SPAIN: Sometimes adventure is a journey to discover ourselves. This medieval pilgrimage through France, Spain, and Portugal to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain can take you weeks or months. Travelers can recover from a day’s walk at one of some 300 refugios that offer food, drink, and a clean place to sleep. It’s a mystical experience that gives you time to reflect on life, learn about yourself, and connect with kindred spirits.
Once in a Lifetime
BOTSWANA, AFRICA: One of the most sparsely populated nations on earth, Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Okavango is the ideal spot to safari as its waters attract a richness of wildlife that is unmatched on the continent. The country’s focus on minimizing human impact means that your African experience will be both primal and transcendent.
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Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer member of FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. TravelGoalGetter.com, 2017
Christopher A. Adams
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