The nation is mourning the death and great loss of a legend, legal scholar, and brilliantly acclaimed jurist in Ruth Bader Ginsburg (eighty-seven years of age) who sat on the bench of the highest court in the land for 27 years. She was called to her final resting place on Friday September 18th, 2020. While I did not know her personally or never had the pleasure of meeting Justice Ginsburg, I wished I’d had a moment to be in her presence to thank her for enriching the many lives that she touched and embraced, women across the nation and people of color like myself. We are grateful that she knew us and never forgot the struggles we face in obtaining equal justice. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was well acquainted with rejection and discrimination and fought to the very end of her life for equal rights, protecting the environment, advocating for gender equality for the LGBTQ community, voting rights for minorities, protecting one’s right to quality health care and justice for all people.
Justice Ginsburg’s work on the United State Supreme Court, as the second female to serve is truly remarkable. She was not uncomfortable being called the notorious RBG for she felt that she and the notorious BIG had a lot in common, both fought fearlessly for equal justice and fairness for all citizen. Whatever can be said or spoken of other United State Supreme Court Justices must be multiplied many times over when referring to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A lady of small physical stature but a giant in her efforts to achieve equality for women, her fight to preserve our Constitutional rights guaranteed under the 14th&15th amendments such as equal voting rights for citizens of color, health care protection for those with pre-existing conditions, upholding a woman’s right to abortion provided under Roe v. Wade , and advocating for the renewal of the 1965 Voting Right’s Act. Without a doubt Justice Ginsburg stood on the right side of history and the name Ruth Bader Ginsburg will resonate and live on through the ages. Well done!!
Justice Ginsburg, having tasted the chill and bitterness of discrimination because of her gender and ethnic background of being Jewish, and having been rejected or passed over time and time again for job opportunities that were reserved for white men, and because she was a woman, those deliberate acts of discrimination and intolerance set ablaze a fire in her very being that prompted and motivated her to wage a fierce and life time battle against injustice, using the courts as a weapon. She never retreated from her convictions and as many of those who worked closely with her have indicated, she worked tirelessly and without ceasing to break down and remove barriers of injustice and intolerance.
When I thought about the human aspect of what happened to Justice Ginsburg, I began to reflect upon the discriminatory practices that have been visited upon people of color over the last four hundred years and are still prevalent in society today. Justice Ginsburg believed that all lives mattered and her decisions on the court reflected that philosophy and belief. May we be inspired by the work of Justice Ginsburg and vow never to give up on justice. We owe her a great deal of gratitude to RBG and we must continue to be encouraged to fight for justice and equality for all
As the nation pauses to mourn, honor and celebrate the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, may we reflect upon her goodness, commitment to justice and racial equality, the contributions and heroic deeds demonstrated by this great American icon and trailblazer, who is being described as a voice for the voiceless, those who have no one to speak for them. Someone referred to her as being the feminist voice, which she offered and the influence of empowerment she instilled in each one of us. What Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave to the world is something that is so desperately needed and should be nestled in the hearts and souls of people for years to come. Rest in peace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You have truly left an indelible mark on the annals of history. We will remember you with the utmost respect and gratitude throughout the ages.