Sunday Musings - March 27, 2022
“They cannot take our joy.”
This week the United States Congress held hearings to consider the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to join the ranks of those who serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. The hearings were, at times, deliberately negative and unrelated to her qualifications. Some Senators seemed determined to question her commitment to upholding their understanding of the constitution of the United States. Some attempted to attack her moral character by questioning whether she cared about protecting children from child predators. Some seemingly attempted to garner political capital by repeatedly asking whether she supported teaching critical race theory.
It is not unusual for nominees to the Supreme Court or other important positions which have to be confirmed by the members of the United States Senate to be critically examined. Given the perception by many that we in the United Sates are experiencing a resurgence of what appears to some to be a defense of and even a resurgence of oppression based on the construct of race, it is not surprising the first black female nominee for this august position was the subject of especially harsh politically motivated questioning.
It appears that she is a person who can stand firm in the face of such attempts to discredit her professionally and personally. She appears to me to be an extremely intelligent, strong person who is up to the task of joining her colleagues in exploring the constitutionality of the cases which reach the United States Supreme Court.
She is well aware she will continue her adult journey of being perceived as a role model for females and especially black females in the United States. If she, a black female, can become a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States then other black females will aspire to be a leader in helping the United States live up to up to its constitutional aspirations which have often been ignored because of the fear of those who hold tight to systemic racism, sexism and other forms of oppression; the belief that “all people” is limited to white, land owning/property owning Caucasian identified males.
Much has and will be written about the contentious and some would say often vicious questioning of this impressive woman. What especially stood out to me, however, were:
o Her ability to remain calm, articulate, humble, and strong; her refusal to be intimidated.
o The gathering of black women, many of whom began to arrive in the Capital city of Washington, D.C. well before the hearings began, whose goal was to make it clear that any unfair treatment of Ms. Jackson would be experienced as directed against all black women.
o Her statement to her children about her precarious balancing act as a mother who is also a busy professional woman; that her intent was to ensure that love was always at the center of her maternal relationship.
o The statement by one of the few black senators, Cory Booker to Ms. Jackson that “They cannot take our joy.” He said much more than that, but I, and I am sure many others were particularly moved by that statement as well as the statement “Don’t worry God has got you.”
President Biden promised, if given the opportunity, to nominate a black woman to serve on the Supreme Court; not just because she was a woman or black, but because it is way past time to quit thinking that excluding black women to such an important position is normal; to publicly state the obvious fact that there has never been a black woman on the Supreme Court because of systemic racism and sexism in this country.
Another woman in the news this week, the first female Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, died; another strong, intelligent, competent defender of the ideals of the constitution of these United States.
I am personally humbled by such thoughtful, courageous, intelligent, patriots of not only the United States but of this planet. Just as they speak their truth with courage and humility all of us must summon the courage to speak our truth with courage and humility.
On this Sunday when some Christians celebrate the teachings of Jesus, it seems to me that we need to do our human best to emulate the compassion, strength, courage, grace and humility not only of Jesus, but such leaders as Madeleine Albright, Ketanji Jackson and Cory Booker
Written March 27, 2022
Jimmy F. Pickett
Coachpickett.org
“They cannot take our joy.”
This week the United States Congress held hearings to consider the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to join the ranks of those who serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. The hearings were, at times, deliberately negative and unrelated to her qualifications. Some Senators seemed determined to question her commitment to upholding their understanding of the constitution of the United States. Some attempted to attack her moral character by questioning whether she cared about protecting children from child predators. Some seemingly attempted to garner political capital by repeatedly asking whether she supported teaching critical race theory.
It is not unusual for nominees to the Supreme Court or other important positions which have to be confirmed by the members of the United States Senate to be critically examined. Given the perception by many that we in the United Sates are experiencing a resurgence of what appears to some to be a defense of and even a resurgence of oppression based on the construct of race, it is not surprising the first black female nominee for this august position was the subject of especially harsh politically motivated questioning.
It appears that she is a person who can stand firm in the face of such attempts to discredit her professionally and personally. She appears to me to be an extremely intelligent, strong person who is up to the task of joining her colleagues in exploring the constitutionality of the cases which reach the United States Supreme Court.
She is well aware she will continue her adult journey of being perceived as a role model for females and especially black females in the United States. If she, a black female, can become a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States then other black females will aspire to be a leader in helping the United States live up to up to its constitutional aspirations which have often been ignored because of the fear of those who hold tight to systemic racism, sexism and other forms of oppression; the belief that “all people” is limited to white, land owning/property owning Caucasian identified males.
Much has and will be written about the contentious and some would say often vicious questioning of this impressive woman. What especially stood out to me, however, were:
o Her ability to remain calm, articulate, humble, and strong; her refusal to be intimidated.
o The gathering of black women, many of whom began to arrive in the Capital city of Washington, D.C. well before the hearings began, whose goal was to make it clear that any unfair treatment of Ms. Jackson would be experienced as directed against all black women.
o Her statement to her children about her precarious balancing act as a mother who is also a busy professional woman; that her intent was to ensure that love was always at the center of her maternal relationship.
o The statement by one of the few black senators, Cory Booker to Ms. Jackson that “They cannot take our joy.” He said much more than that, but I, and I am sure many others were particularly moved by that statement as well as the statement “Don’t worry God has got you.”
President Biden promised, if given the opportunity, to nominate a black woman to serve on the Supreme Court; not just because she was a woman or black, but because it is way past time to quit thinking that excluding black women to such an important position is normal; to publicly state the obvious fact that there has never been a black woman on the Supreme Court because of systemic racism and sexism in this country.
Another woman in the news this week, the first female Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, died; another strong, intelligent, competent defender of the ideals of the constitution of these United States.
I am personally humbled by such thoughtful, courageous, intelligent, patriots of not only the United States but of this planet. Just as they speak their truth with courage and humility all of us must summon the courage to speak our truth with courage and humility.
On this Sunday when some Christians celebrate the teachings of Jesus, it seems to me that we need to do our human best to emulate the compassion, strength, courage, grace and humility not only of Jesus, but such leaders as Madeleine Albright, Ketanji Jackson and Cory Booker
Written March 27, 2022
Jimmy F. Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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