Notorious RBG

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."- Ruth Bader Ginsburg In the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. It is the dream of every United States of America president to nominate and have his confirmed by the US Senate to sit on the US Supreme Court. It is sheer bliss to have the confirmation of more than one nominee sit on the US Supreme Court for any president. For most of us the US Supreme Court is far removed from our average lives as we try to eke out a daily living. There are nine (9) Justices on the US Supreme Court. Like most institutions globally there is a gender imbalance regarding the composition of the members of the US Supreme Court. Currently, there are only three females Justices, one of whom was the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We must be mindful that at one point the US Supreme Court was an all male institution. Justice Ginsburg was soft spoken and small in stature; however, her intellect was gigantic. She was a staunch feminist who believed that women should have the right to choose. She was also a firm supporter in women’s reproductive rights and the empowerment education provides for females. Justice Ginsburg interpretation of the law was grounded in a fierce protection of gender and social justice for minorities of all persuasions. For Justice Ginsburg justice was inclusive and no group or collective groups of people should be denied justice based on their sexual orientation and any social indicator. Early Years Ginsburg was born Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. The second daughter of Nathan and Celia Bader, she grew up in a low-income, working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn. She also credited her mother for instilling in her the value of independence and a good education. At James Madison High School in Brooklyn, Ginsburg worked assiduously and excelled in her studies. The late Justice was always a trailblazer. In 1954 she earned a bachelor’s degree in Government from Cornell University finishing first in her class. Ruth was also able to balance academics and her family life. In 1954 she married Martin D. Ginsburg; the couple had two children. The marriage lasted over 56 years until Martin died in 2010. At Harvard University Ginsburg balanced life as a mother and her new role as a law student. She also encountered a very male-dominated and hostile environment, with only eight other females in her class of more than 500. The women were blamed by the law school's dean for taking the places of qualified males. However, Ginsburg pressed on and excelled academically, eventually becoming the first female member of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. President Carter in 1980 appointed Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. She served there until she was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 by another Democratic President Bill Clinton. She was considered part of the Supreme Court's moderate-liberal bloc presenting a strong voice in favor of gender equality, the rights of workers and the separation of church and state. The US Supreme Court is made up of conservative Republican appointed judges and liberal judges appointed by a Democrat president. The entire world watched with amazement at how active and sharp Ruth Bader Ginsburg was even at 87. We knew she was not in the best of health as she openly spoke about her bouts with colon, pancreatic and lung cancer and treatments over the years. Many of us who follow American politics were hoping that Ruth Bader Ginsburg would have stayed around for at least after the US presidential election scheduled for November 3, 2020. We know how important the US Supreme Court is in cementing the legacy of a president. The rulings of the US Supreme Court not only impact the current generation but also has implications for generations to come. Some will argue that the composition of the US Supreme Court reflect the diversity of the American society. We are now likely to see a swing to Conservatism principles as the battle for Justice Ginsburg replacement will intensify in the days and weeks ahead. Are you old enough to remember the 2000 presidential elections in the United States of America? In spite of her reputation for restrained writing, she gathered considerable attention for her dissenting opinion in the case of Bush v. Gore, which effectively decided the 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al. Core. Ginsburg was in disagreement with the court's majority opinion favoring Bush. Ginsburg deliberately and subtly concluded her decision with the words, "I dissent". Just imagine if the Supreme Court has one more liberal leaning judge in 2000 Al Core would have succeeded Bill Clinton as president. Arguably, the US Supreme Court is the most single most important institution in American politics. Historic Rulings In 2015, Ginsburg sided with the majority in two landmark Supreme Court rulings. On June 25th she was one of the six justices to uphold a critical component of the 2010 Affordable Care Act often referred to as Obamacare in King v. Burwell. The decision allows the federal government to continue providing subsidies to Americans who purchase health care through "exchanges," regardless of whether they are state or federally operated. On June 26, the Supreme Court handed down its second historic decision in as many days, with a 5–4 majority ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. Ginsburg is considered to have been instrumental in the decision. Cultural Icon In 2016 Ruth Bader Ginsburg released her memoir, My Own Words, which became a New York Times bestseller. In January 2018 Ginsburg appeared at the Sundance Film Festival to accompany the premiere of the documentary RBG. The former US Supreme Court justice was able to transcend race. She was gifted with the title “notorious” after the legendary African American rapper and hip-hop royalty and icon, also known as Biggie Smalls or Biggie who was murdered at 24 in a 1997 drive-by shooting. A famous photo of The Notorious B.I.G. wearing a gold crown was even re-created with Ginsburg's image and appeared on the cover of the 2015 book "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik. Undoubtedly, the legacy of Notorious RBG will be felt long after her death. It appears that the late Justice Ginsburg was able to connect with of various backgrounds and was clearly comfortable in such settings. When asked if she was uncomfortable with the title ‘Notorious’, Justice Ruth Ginsburg said, “Why should I feel uncomfortable? We have a lot in common. And first and foremost, we were both born and bred in Brooklyn, New York." One of the most touching tributes came in the form of ‘push ups’ by Bryant Johnson in front of her casket. Johnson was Justice Ginsburg former personal trainer. Her death has sparked interest in politics particularly in the US Supreme Court. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a large than life individual. Since the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg her life and legacy have been celebrated by her former law clerks, the hip hop community, politicians and members of the legal profession among others. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a champion for gender equality and justice for all. Justice Ginsburg was revered as a legal scholar and was the embodiment of justice for all. Ruth Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020. The body of the late legal luminary will lie in state in the Capitol on September 25. She will be the first woman and second Supreme Court Justice to have this honor. In describing the late Ruth Ginsburg, Justice Stephen Breyer said, she was a great justice, a woman of valor, a rock of righteousness. Justice Ginsburg served at the right time and we hope that history will be kind to her. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. injustice anywhere is a treat to justice everywhere. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo #NotoriousRBG #RuthBaderGinsburg #USSupremeCourt ©