Cameron Bebeau

Excitement filled the Fayetteville State University campus on September 4, as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson visited for a one-on-one discussion about her memoir, “Lovely One,” in an event hosted by the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.

The program opened with remarks from students, community members, and Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, before Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity CEO Brandon Price was introduced by FSU Student Government Association President, Latoya Harper.

Before her conversation with Price, Justice Jackson read from the preface of her memoir, reflecting on the moment of her confirmation to the nation’s highest court and sharing glimpses of her family life.

“I came from a people who were very intentional on teaching me that I can do anything I want,” Jackson said, explaining that her parents were insistent she pursue opportunities they never had. Whether it was swimming lessons or piano lessons, she was always encouraged to try something new.

That mindset shaped her academic path as well. In high school, she thrived in speech and debate, ultimately winning a national oratory championship.

It was during her time in speech and debate that she first visited Harvard University – a visit that inspired her to apply. When she was accepted, she recalled with a smile that her grandmother mistakenly thought she had been admitted to Howard University, the historically Black university, and likely never realized the mix-up.

At Harvard, Jackson met her husband, Patrick Johnson. She told the audience, in a moment of laughter, how his behavior confused her at first – friendly in one class, distant in another – until she realized he had an identical twin brother, William.

Her life experiences continued to propel her career, leading to three prestigious clerkships: first with Judge Patti B. Saris of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, then Judge Bruce M. Selya of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and finally with Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court, whose seat she now holds.

Reflecting on her time clerking at the Supreme Court, Jackson noted that the formality of the justice’s post-argument conferences initially surprised her.

For Fayetteville State University, the event was more than just a campus visit. It was a reminder of the power of representation, resilience and storytelling. For those in attendance, hearing these values in her own voice added a layer of meaning that would be difficult to catch on paper.

Photos by Cameron Bebeau.

Originally Published at: https://www.fsuthevoice.com/supreme-court-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-visits-fsu/