Just Because They’re Black Doesn’t Mean They’re A Politician: Why We Must Fight For A Brilliant, Capable Black Woman as Supreme Court Justice

Joe Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman for the soon to be vacant Supreme Court seat - but exactly who he chooses is one of the most important decisions he will make in his presidency.

Former presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson speaks with guests before the start of the third U.S. presidential debate (2016, Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, and many are waiting with great anticipation for Joe Biden to make good on his promise to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court.

As if it makes no difference which Black woman he chooses, Biden has given little indication as to who this woman will be nor what she will stand for. Yet many seem just fine with this, pleased, and rightfully so, to simply have more representation on the Supreme Court. But as I learned some time ago, in the realm of politics, sometimes it’s your own people who commit the worst acts against your people. 

Ben Carson was the first Black person that made me realize that just being Black, or being a part of any marginalized group, does not make you an activist for said group. 

Let me backtrack - I was born in 2002. 

The first president I have cognizant memories of is Barack Obama - and even at six years old I knew that him being Black was a huge deal. I didn’t have all the context of America’s torrid racial history, nor did I quite understand how deeply revolutionary this election was for the Black community, but I knew he was important and that he was Black.

I understood how important he was, in part, because he was Black.