‘Panthers can do anything’: Miami Palmetto students celebrate Jackson to Supreme Court
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Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as first Black woman justice
On Thursday, April 6, the Senate voted 53 to 47 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jackson will become the first Black woman and the first Floridian on the court upon taking the oath of office.
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Students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School on Friday celebrated one of their own who made history this week — Ketanji Brown Jackson reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jackson, 51, who graduated from the high school in 1988, was confirmed to the nation’s high court on Thursday in a 53 to 47 Senate vote. She’s the first Black woman and first Floridian to serve on the court and will succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, whom she clerked for during his 1999-2000 Supreme Court term.
High School cheerleaders, the Chatonettes dance squad and the band led the pep rally in Pinecrest as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris honored Jackson and her historic achievement at the White House.
Ziyah McGriff, 16, expressed her excitement about seeing another woman “who has the same skin tone get opportunities.” She was, however, disappointed with the split vote among senators.
“We should be able to communicate our ideas without being rude to each other,” McGriff said. “She’s clearly the person who can do the job very well. The political aspects of our country are dividing our country instead of bringing it together.”
“Palmetto Panthers can do anything,” a debate club member proclaimed excitedly to the crowd. The pep squad chanted “P-A-L-M-E-T-T-O” and students followed along in the first of two rallies held Friday.
‘Sparked Inspiration’
“It made me really happy that we finally have that representation and finally a breakthrough to have a Black woman” in that position, said Noraly Paul, 16. “It just makes me happy to see what the next generation is going to bring.”
Another student, Allison Gould, 18, said, “seeing someone that comes from our school doing something so amazing, it’s just a remarkable thing.”
Jackson’s confirmation, she said, has “sparked inspiration in all of us to get out there, do things we’re passionate about and change the world.”
Jackson mentions Miami upbringing
During an emotional speech at the White House, Jackson declared: “We’ve made it — all of us.”
READ MORE: Jackson celebrates rise from Miami to Supreme Court
She once again pointed to her Miami roots, “from my neighborhood growing up, from Miami Palmetto Senior High School, and especially the debate team” as she thanked her friends and supporters.
Her father, Johnny Brown, served as chief attorney for the Miami-Dade School Board, and her mother, Ellery Brown, served as principal of the New World School of the Arts in Miami.
For Condoleezza Alexis, a sophomore at the school and member of the debate club, watching Jackson’s confirmation was groundbreaking.
“She went to Palmetto just like me, and she was in debate,” she said. “People had been talking about it for a while, but you never know if it’s actually going to happen, so to see her actually confirmed it was surreal. This is happening right now. History is changing right in front of our eyes.”
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 12:43 PM.
