The Confirmation Hearing: Are You Watching This?
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editors' views or those of any agency, organization, or employer. Based on my experience, research and knowledge, my statements are in good faith and are only for information purposes.
Have you been watching, listening, paying attention to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court hearings? I think you will agree that she has been put through some unnecessary nonsense if you have. Many of the questions asked by Republicans are not to get information about her work, experience, or even her philosophy. The questions are designed to clue in and elicit the Trump base, the far-right Republicans, and people who fear and have contempt for those who don't look, think, or behave as they do.
Maybe I'm sensitive to what is happening to Judge Jackson because, like her, I am a Black woman, and I feel that I'm often marginalized and discounted before I even open my mouth. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee knows her credentials and qualifications, so they avoid questions that would show her knowledge and ability to do the job. Instead, they questioned her about Critical Race Theory (CRT) her faith, and she was essentially asked if she considered herself a woman. All because these are issues that seem to rile their constituents.
Compared to the last confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett, this confirmation feels and sounds different. During Justice Coney Barret's confirmation hearings, no one asked these types of questions. Nor were these types of questions asked of Brett Kavanaugh. Judge Jackson has a great family story, so they could not attack her person. She has an exemplary career leading straight to this nomination, so they could not attack her experience. She has an excellent record, so they can't attack her judgment. So, what do they do? They insult her identity, her race, and gender. They try to make it appear that she is not qualified because of who she is or is not.
It was not just the questions being asked during the hearing but also how they were asked. They, especially Ted Cruz, would interrupt her and/ or not allow her to respond. I was overwhelmed, frustrated, and angered by the line of questions, righteousness, and aggression shown toward her. Their actions indicated that judge or no judge, confirmed or not, you can't measure up because you are you. It's heartbreaking to know that someone with her qualifications and experience can be subjected to so much bias in such a public way.
Like many other signs, the confirmation hearing is another indicator of regression in this country regarding civil and women's rights. The lines of questions regarding race and gender were clear. They show the intent of the Republican Party to not only erase Black History by attacking CRT but also to enforce a binary, nochoice agenda when it comes to our bodies.
I know it's hard to keep up with everything going on, but we are in trouble. I don't mean to sound an alarm, but if we don't get out and vote our interest, we will lose more than we know. All politics are local, and this Supreme Court confirmation will have some impact on all of our lives. The person confirmed will have some say in everything from what our children learn in school to who gets to vote and whether or not you have the right to choose what happens to your body.
Beyond watching, we can't afford to be complacent or silent during the upcoming mid-term elections; politicians are passing policies that threaten our quality of life and our very democracy. Since the 2020 elections, at least nineteen states have enacted laws that make it harder for us to vote. I keep repeating this because this is alarming! When we can't or don't vote, it's harder for us to have a say in the policies that govern everything from schools to stimulus checks to who will be our president.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of voting and fighting against voter suppression and the teaching of actual history. Frederick Douglas said, "power concedes nothing without demand," so along with voting, we need to insist that our voting rights are protected federally and that Black History is taught in schools. We need to demand that Congress passes the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Sifting through the barrage of information we receive daily can be daunting but let's stay focused on what's most important. Voting is the bedrock of our democracy; we have to vote our interest. If we are tired of being marginalized and discounted, we must impact the policies at the root. We must vote for the change we want.
Note: Don't forget to get registered to vote for the midterms.
Sophia Brewer (M.L.I.S.) is Collection Development and Serials Librarian, Grand Rapids Community College; Co-President of the Greater Grand Rapids History Council; member of the Grand Rapids Study Club and serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library, Board of Library Commissioners (Elected 2016-2021). She is a former Head of Programs, Grand Rapids Public Library and former Branch Manager, Madison Square Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library Congresswoman
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