There is nothing sweeter than to see your enemies fight a losing battle. The effort expended to disqualify the highly recommended federal appellate, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, for the highest judicial position in the U.S., a seat at the Supreme Court will fail.
One cannot fight excellent and exceptional qualifications, backed up by an impeccable
record and experience. So those who are searching for a reason or an excuse, other than the fact that she is a Black woman, will draw blank.
If it is just a process then let it be fair. President Joe Biden’s proud choice is
an excellent one, the candidate has all the right characteristics for the job, and she should, without any doubt be confirmed.
He also calls her a distinguished jurist, a nominee who reflects the full talents and
greatness of America. She has already made us, not only Blacks, but everyone proud and will continue to do so.
She is a woman, she is Black, but most of all she is very, very qualified. So there should be no issue.
Also, Affirmative Action plays no part here, because when you are good, you are just damn good.
So for Blacks, especially our youth, you do not have to be fearful to climb up the ladder. There are enough Black role models locally, and on television,, not only in sports and entertainment, but also in the academic stream. This should send a loud message to our Black youth, that the sky is the limit and there is plenty
room at the top.
Let us look on just three people who have made it to the top. President Barak Obama, (Black), Vice President Kamala Harris ( Black )and now, Judge Brown Jackson (Black). They were not geniuses. They studied beyond a first degree by going to graduate schools. In the case of the three mentioned, they all went to
Professional Graduate Schools, the best of them. There are many doctors, dentists, engineers, professors and many others who have studied beyond the bachelor’s degree.
So for many the focus after the first degree is graduate study. Today I am directing my comments to our Black youth.
You see there was a time, long past when Black students were encouraged or even forced to finish high school. That is not necessary any more.
Most of our Black youth are graduating from H.S. without an extra push. Many go to CEGEP but not enough are entering the university level. This is rather unfortunate as it seems the emphasis is now shifting to obtaining two or even more degrees. Remember that there is room at the top.
In spite of systemic racism, Blacks must collectively try to achieve the highest. Face it, the more educated
you are, the less you will be affected by racism. Of course there are exceptions to this rule. But it takes hard work, it takes, again I say, delay of gratification and the will to do so. Those who will be receiving their first degree should have already began the process of getting into a graduate and professional program. The jobs will always be there and the more qualified one is, the better the chance of finding a position.
At times with a graduate degree the job comes looking for you. Graduate programs are more intensive and more is expected from you. But the added confidence one gets from a first degree, and your level of maturity being older, graduate work is not insurmountable.
So for those Blacks graduating this semester be a trail blazer in contributing to a sharp increase in the graduate school population.
Presently women outnumber men in most graduate schools. It is also true of Blacks. Our Black men are greatly outnumbered. So an extra urge to get our young guys on track.
But to take it one step further, whichever program you are graduating from this semester, you are expected to go the distance, which is step by step to graduate school.
As a Black community we cannot allow Judge Brown Jackson to become lonely at the top.
