Are You a Racist? Here’s a Quick Test.
Lately, I’ve been hearing people claim that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was a “DEI pick,” an “affirmative action hire,” someone who didn’t earn her spot (+1 if you agree) and supposedly “took” it from a white person who was more deserving (+1 if you agree).
So let’s put that to the test. Let’s compare her record against a white male Supreme Court justice—apples to apples. I chose Brett Kavanaugh.(+1 if you think that isn’t fair) Honestly, I thought he’d do worse in the comparison. (I will take +1 for my prejudice there) Let’s see.
Brett Kavanaugh
Yale College, graduated cum laude (with honors).
Yale Law School, J.D., 1990.
Editor, Yale Law Journal.
Senior thesis on the Constitution, focusing on executive power.
Clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy.
That’s a solid résumé—better than I expected, actually.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Harvard College, graduated magna cum laude (with great honors—higher than “with honors”).
Harvard Law School, J.D., graduated cum laude.
Editor, Harvard Law Review.
Senior thesis: The Hand of Oppression: Plea Bargaining Processes and the Coercion of Criminal Defendants—focused on the people instead of executive power.
Clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer.
Side by side, her record is not less than his. In fact, it’s slightly better. The focus is different, yes—but different in a way that adds value to the Court.
Joe Biden promised to appoint a Black woman. (+1 if that makes you angry)That didn’t “take” anything from a white man. It added perspective that’s been missing.
Think about it: only three Black justices in the history of the Supreme Court—Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her thesis alone shows why diversity matters: her lived experience as a Black woman gives her insight into the justice system that a white man, even with the same credentials, simply doesn’t bring.
That perspective is not a weakness. It’s the point.
So—are you racist, or not? Score yourself and let’s discuss it in the comments.
Here are a few more of her resume bullet points:
U.S. Sentencing Commission: Helped lead the commission that reduced unfair drug sentencing disparities, making the system more just.
Public Defender: The only modern justice with hands-on experience defending people who couldn’t afford a lawyer.
Federal Judgeships: Served nearly a decade as a federal judge, first on the D.C. District Court, then on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Notable Rulings: Ordered Trump’s White House Counsel Don McGahn to testify to Congress—showing she’d hold presidents accountable.
Teaching & Leadership: Taught at Harvard Law and served on boards shaping the future of legal education and the judiciary.
