Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Voices Support for Michelle Obama’s Critique of Elite Universities

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recently appeared on a podcast hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama, where she backed Obama’s criticisms regarding how elite schools isolate students of color. This aligns with President Obama’s sentiment that such institutions fail these students when they are dispersed across campus.

Jackson reflected on her time at Harvard, noting that the strong black community there made her feel at home. She attended Harvard for both her undergraduate education and law school, while President Obama completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton but also earned his law degree from Harvard.

“It’s not beneficial for children of color to be pulled from their groups and scattered throughout the campus,” Obama remarked.

Jackson responded in agreement, saying, “I think that’s absolutely true.”

She shared her personal experiences, noting she was well-liked in high school but often felt lonely. This changed when she arrived at Harvard in the late 1980s, where she discovered a strong sense of belonging thanks to the vibrant black community on campus.

“When I was at Harvard—at the same time as Michelle—there was a substantial black community there,” Jackson recalled. “In a way, I felt like I found my people.”

Jackson emphasized how these students, who share similar backgrounds, created a safe space for her to express herself. She mentioned living with five other Black women during her time there, highlighting the sense of community that was both broad and supportive.

“They were people whose life experiences and backgrounds resonated with mine, and I felt completely at ease being myself,” she said. “I roomed with five other Black women, and it was just this wonderful community—it was really something special.”

Having graduated from Harvard in 1992, Jackson stepped aside from a Supreme Court case regarding Harvard admissions, due to her prior role on the university’s Board of Overseers. However, she became involved in a class action lawsuit against the University of North Carolina. Both institutions are set to implement race-conscious admissions processes in 2023.

Jackson joined Justice Sonia Sotomayor in dissenting opinions related to the UNC case, raising concerns that the majority’s rulings might exacerbate existing racial disparities.

“No one benefits from ignorance,” Jackson expressed. “Although formal legal barriers concerning race have vanished, race continues to play a role in the lived experiences of all Americans, and today’s decision only amplifies the problem.”

Following the Supreme Court ruling, reports indicated a decline in black enrollment at Harvard. Black students represented a significant portion of the student body, with only 11.5% of the 2029 graduation class identifying as Black, down from previous years.

The Justice Department has been investigating whether Harvard complies with the recent affirmative action ruling, filing a lawsuit to require the school to submit applicant-level records. They haven’t accused Harvard of any new discriminatory practices, but argued that if the university has ceased discriminatory actions, it should provide data to support that claim.

In reaction to the lawsuit, Harvard stated its commitment to comply with civil rights laws in its admissions processes and asserted that changes were made following the ruling to prevent bias in reviewing applications.