Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has shared that her journey to the Supreme Court was unexpected. After being nominated by President Biden in 2022 to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, she described the media attention surrounding her as “white hot.”
Jackson expressed that following her confirmation process, she was surprised by the interest from biographers wanting to tell her story. She decided that if her story were to be told, it should be through her own voice.
Her memoir, titled “Lovely One,” reflects on her personal experiences and is narrated from a multigenerational perspective that connects her accomplishments as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court to her family’s history in the segregated South.
She emphasized her desire to honor those who contributed to her success before embarking on this new chapter in her life. Jackson reminisced about valuable lessons learned from strong figures in her life, particularly her grandmother, Euzera Ross.
Jackson recalled a poignant memory involving a note her grandmother had written that was misspelled. Finding humor in it as a child, she brought it to her mother’s attention, who admonished her for mocking someone’s abilities. This experience taught Jackson the importance of humility and empathy.
In her memoir, she also discusses her family’s challenges, including her eldest daughter’s autism diagnosis, something that has not been publicly acknowledged before. Moving forward with her nomination, Jackson felt it crucial to address it, especially as her daughter supported her decision to be open about their family’s experiences.
The conversation also touched on Jackson’s relationship with her hair. She shared her struggles with conforming to professional standards in the legal field, ultimately choosing to embrace her natural hair after realizing the demands of maintaining traditional hairstyles were overwhelming.
Reflecting on her late grandmother’s aspirations for her, Jackson believes her grandmother would be very proud of her achievements, acknowledging the significant role her prayers played in her journey.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir “Lovely One” offers a deeper look into her life and experiences leading to her historic role on the Supreme Court.