Ketanji Brown Jackson - First Black Female Supreme Court Justice
Ketanji Brown Jackson - First Black Female Supreme Court Justice
Millions of children not born into such households often lack the social and emotional support and behavioral skills to thrive academically , and far too few American schools teach the competencies these students need to succeed .
The disadvantages visited upon students from families of modest means and without college-educated parents compound over time . Students from low-income households are greatly disfavored in the frenetic race for admission into elite colleges , a process that rewards students who grow up in wealthier zip codes and with engaged parents who can provide access to test prep and even educational consultants . And even these powerful advantages are not enough for some wealthy and well-connected parents , who seek admission to selective universities through so-called “ side doors .”
Those students from modest backgrounds who do manage to attain admission to the nation ’ s highest educational echelon often face a deck stacked against them , as Harvard sociologist Anthony Jack has shown .
To navigate unfamiliar norms and cultures and feel a sense of belonging inside and outside of college classrooms , these students need to address what I ’ ve termed the “ mentoring gap ,” by providing opportunities for interpersonal connection and community building . Jackson herself described feeling out of place at Harvard , recalling that it took the kindness of a stranger , a Black woman passerby who admonished her to “ persevere ,” to help her remain on course during a moment of self-doubt .
All these factors intersect to create persistent structural inequalities in our educational system and in society . We can do better — much better .
In this moment of transformation at the US Supreme Court , we should not only celebrate the achievement of one exceptionally accomplished Black woman . We must also work harder than ever to create a more equitable society — one that supports the development of high achievers from every background and every neighborhood in America .
Tomiko Brown-Nagin is Dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute , Daniel P . S . Paul Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School and author of “ Civil Rights Queen : Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality .”