Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, officially has a street named after her in Miami-Dade County, South Florida, where she spent most of her childhood and adolescence, and a place she said she feels “connected” to.
“I really believe there is an important connection between my experience growing up in this area and my position today,” Jackson said during the naming ceremony for a stretch of the well-known Eureka Drive between Old Cutler Road and Caribbean Boulevard, located in the southern part of the county, which as of today is named Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Street.
Last October, Miami-Dade commissioners (councilmen) approved naming that portion of the street after the judge, who, although born in Washington in September 1970, grew up in this county, where she graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1988.
“I learned to support myself despite obstacles, to work hard, to be resilient, to strive for excellence and to believe in myself and what I could do if I had the opportunity, so I really love it here,” Jackson said.
“I’m so proud to have grown up here in this South Florida community that, thanks to all of you, now has a prominent street named after me,” she said.
“I hope that people driving by can have a moment of reflection on what it means that a person from this neighborhood, and someone with my background, can take what this place has to offer,” the judge longed.
Born in the U.S. capital in 1970, Jackson spent most of her childhood and adolescence in Miami, inspired by her father’s passion for law, who studied law with voluminous books while she, at his side, colored notebooks from her kindergarten.
“It was my father who pushed me down this path,” the judge said in February 2022, during her nomination event at the White House.
Brown Jackson became the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 30, after being sworn in at a ceremony attended by U.S. President Joe Biden.
Brown Jackson, 52, was sworn in on June 30, 2022, upon the departure of her predecessor, Justice Stephen Breyer.
President Biden thus fulfilled his promise to nominate an African-American woman for a seat on the Supreme Court, where currently the entire Democratic side is occupied by women, while the Republican side has only one.
After graduating from Harvard University, Brown Jackson was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, considered the second highest court in the country and a stepping stone to the Supreme Court.
Patrick Bannett is a profound writer and content producer embarking on his digital journalism journey with Global Web Wire. He is knowledgeable on various daily life topics, including politics, personal finance, travel, lifestyle, and relationships. Apart from writing, Patrick is also an accomplished communicator and networker. He always seeks new opportunities to collaborate with like-minded individuals and businesses. Bannett enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and exploring new cultures when he is not writing. Bannett holds a Ph.D. in English and Communications and continues expanding his knowledge through ongoing education and research.
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