LOVELY ONE

by Ketanji Brown Jackson

In one of the most beautifully written memoirs I’ve ever read, Ketanji Brown Jackson invites the reader into her life and describes her journey from being a young girl living in a segregated Miami neighborhood to becoming the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Always supported by her parents and grandparents, Jackson was raised to believe in herself and her abilities. With a strong faith foundation and parents who valued education, she set herself the goal of becoming a judge at a very young age and pursued that goal with amazing determination. As one of only a few Black students in her high school AP classes, Jackson not only succeeded academically and as a leader, but also threw herself into acting and debate as two ways to hone her skills.  Accepted at Harvard as an undergraduate, her descriptions of her acculturation to that milieu are heart-wrenching.  But with her typical resolve, she created a group of women similar to herself who could support each other.  She graduated magna cum laude and a leader in her class.

One particularly compelling aspect of Brown’s memoir is how she repeatedly credits her success not only to her own hard work, but also to the many people who supported her along the way.  By the time Brown entered Harvard Law School, she had a serious boyfriend (later to become her husband) who was starting medical school.  Her descriptions of how she and Patrick bolstered each other through the years of school, internships and residencies amazed me.  They were able to honor the importance of each other’s careers and determine when it was time to be the supporter and when it was time to receive the other’s support.  Through the birth of their first child and then their second, and having to move the entire household for job opportunities several times, Ketanji and Patrick always championed each other.

Ketanji Brown Jackson realized her dream of becoming a Supreme Court judge and she did it with the full backing of her husband and children. If you want a book that will lift you up and motivate you, read Lovely One. It will leave you feeling inspired that this honest, hardworking woman achieved her dreams in such magnificent fashion. (Liz)