WASHINGTON – Ketanji Brown Jackson began her public speaking journey in elementary school, thanks to her mother who signed her up for a program aimed at boosting communication skills.

“My mother wanted me to express myself,” Jackson shared with a crowd of around 2,000 who welcomed her with a standing ovation at the Kennedy Center’s concert hall on Wednesday night.

Jackson’s voice has been prominent lately.

As the newest member of the Supreme Court, she is embarking on a media tour to promote her memoir, “Lovely One.”

Her history as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 2022 sparked significant interest in her life story, which she recounts in her book.

Following her nomination, journalists explored her family history, contrasting that of her husband’s ancestors who made the journey on the Mayflower, with the story of Jackson’s own ancestors who were forcibly brought from Africa.

She received numerous letters, along with handmade gifts, including a crocheted doll that resembled her and played a recording of her post-confirmation remarks: “I have now accomplished something my grandparents could never have imagined.”

Jackson noted her awareness of the public’s curiosity about her journey to the Supreme Court and expressed her desire to share her story herself.

Her memoir highlights the importance her parents placed on her African heritage, including the significance of her name, Ketanji Onyika, meaning “lovely one” in an African language, along with their encouragement to never give up.

“I recall thinking other parents seemed much more affectionate than mine,” she reflected about their belief that nothing was impossible if she was willing to strive for it.

Sharing her personal story

In explaining her progression toward success, she discusses her experiences as one of the few Black students in her schools, her interracial marriage to a surgeon, the challenges of motherhood, and raising a daughter with autism.

Jackson expressed concern that her Supreme Court role might attract unwanted attention toward her children, allowing both daughters to voice their preferences on whether she should stay on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Leila, who wrote to President Barack Obama in 2016 urging him to consider her mother for the Supreme Court, supported Jackson’s nomination. Talia, older at the time, affirmed the importance of being open about her autism and academic challenges.

“I have nothing to hide,” Talia reassured her mother.

Jackson stays silent on court matters

However, Jackson has been tight-lipped about her experiences on the Supreme Court itself, both in her memoir and during promotional events.

When asked about the conservative majority’s recent decision granting former President Donald Trump significant immunity from his presidential actions, her public criticism was noticeably less intense than the dissent she provided alongside her fellow liberal justices or her own written dissent.

She has also been reserved regarding the ethical controversies surrounding the court, such as Justice Clarence Thomas not disclosing millions’ worth of luxury gifts and trips.

While Jackson has not objected to strengthening the court’s ethics guidelines, she has refrained from expressing her position on 18-year term limits for justices, a reform suggested by President Joe Biden.

“I’m going to allow the political process to unfold,” she mentioned during an interview with PBS New Hour. “People are currently invested in this decision, and it will be fascinating to see the outcome.”

Jackson also remained noncommittal when late-night host Stephen Colbert brought up the recent issue regarding politically charged flags displayed outside Justice Samuel Alito’s home.

“Do you have any flags you like to show?” Colbert asked Jackson.

“No comment,” she replied with a laugh.

`Embrace our greatness’

Yet, Orandra Cotton, a retired social worker who was part of the excited audience at the Kennedy Center, did not hold back her opinions on the Supreme Court.

Cotton expressed her diminished respect for the court due to recent rulings and “un-American” actions.

“I feel let down,” she said. Yet regarding Jackson, Cotton expressed confidence, stating, “I trust she will do what’s right.”

Sporting pearls and pink Converse shoes to honor another trailblazing Black woman, Vice President Kamala Harris, Cotton never dreamed she would witness a Black woman on the Supreme Court.

“This is a significant moment,” she remarked, referring to her friends gathered at the Kennedy Center. “We are continually stepping into our achieving greatness regardless of the circumstances.