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RACISM IN POLITICS
On the Inquisition of America's First Black Woman Supreme Court Nominee
The more they accuse Ketanji Brown Jackson of misconduct, the more they expose their racist intentions
Soon, Ketanji Brown Jackson will be confirmed as America's first Black woman Supreme Court Justice. And given the support of the Democratic Party, Republicans cannot stop her ascension. But that hasn't stopped conservative White senators from throwing a series of baseless critiques against the wall to see what could stick.
The American Bar Association called Jackson "well qualified," giving her their highest ranking, based on her "qualities of integrity, professional competence, and judicial temperament." Yet, conservatives tried to portray Jackson as "soft on crime," criticizing her work as a federal public defender and accusing her of using Critical Race Theory in sentencing decisions.
Their line of questioning felt more like an inquisition than a traditional senate confirmation hearing. White senators continuously asked Ketanji Brown Jackson to describe her faith and disavow Critical Race Theory and other literature from Black scholars, like Ibram X. Kendi and Nikole Hannah-Jones. They might as well have asked Jackson, "Do you denounce Black scholars and all their anti-racism work?" Guess folks like Cruz didn't realize their line of questioning exposed just how little they understand about applying a theory. Not to mention, Cruz took issue with President Biden nominating a Black woman nominee before we knew who he'd pick.
Critical Race Theory considers the role race played in shaping America's legal and cultural landscape. Opponents of the theory say race plays no role in our lived experiences, even though statistics indicate widespread racial disparities. But, what does Critical Race Theory have to do with sentencing someone? Absolutely nothing. Throughout the hearing, conservatives made it clear they consider anyone who discusses racism a…
