Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Supports Michelle Obama’s Views on Diversity in Elite Colleges

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson voiced her agreement with Michelle Obama regarding the treatment of students of color in elite colleges. This discussion took place on a recent episode of the former first lady’s podcast.

Michelle Obama criticized the practice of distributing students of color sparsely across a campus, suggesting it fails to serve their best interests. Jackson, an alumnus of Harvard University, echoed Obama’s sentiments by highlighting her own supportive experiences during her time at Harvard due to its substantial Black student community.

“You don’t do kids of color service by plucking them out and making them one of a few, and then scattering them about the campus,” Obama stated.

Speaking on this, Jackson connected with her college days, expressing how she felt a sense of belonging among peers with similar backgrounds. She contrasted this with her earlier high school experience of popularity coupled with loneliness. Jackson lived with five other Black women at Harvard, fostering a strong sense of community.

Jackson’s remarks gain further context considering her involvement in a Supreme Court case concerning affirmative action in college admissions. She recused herself from the Harvard case due to previous roles but participated in a related University of North Carolina case. This year, the court ruled against colleges’ race-conscious admissions programs.

Justice Jackson joined a dissenting opinion that cautioned the ruling could increase racial inequalities. She emphasized the importance of understanding race’s impact on American lives, cautioning the decision might worsen disparities instead of mitigating them.

Harvard has experienced a drop in Black enrollment since the ruling, with recent statistics showing decreased numbers in their freshman classes.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Harvard to access records, assessing whether the university follows the Supreme Court’s decision. Harvard asserted its compliance and urged transparency. The institution claims it altered its admissions practices, omitting race information for application reviewers.