A Historic Visit to Fayetteville State University
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson spoke to a packed audience at Fayetteville State University (FSU) on September 4, 2025. The event marked her first trip to North Carolina, drawing cheers from students, faculty, and community members.
FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison called the moment “perfectly fitting,” reminding the audience that the historically Black university was founded in 1867 during Reconstruction. He noted that Jackson’s presence reflected a future once unimaginable for formerly enslaved people seeking education after the Civil War. “She hears us,” Allison declared as Jackson prepared to take the stage. The crowd erupted in applause for the first Black woman to sit on the nation’s highest court.
Justice Jackson Emphasizes Perseverance and Education
Jackson opened with a reading from her book, “Lovely One,” describing the emotions she felt before being sworn in as the 116th Supreme Court justice. “My heart was hammering so loudly,” she recalled, standing between Chief Justice John Roberts and retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
She then shared her journey from childhood in Washington, D.C., and Miami. Raised by parents who were both educators, Jackson credited her father’s late nights studying law and her mother’s insistence on achievement as the foundation of her success. “He has his books and I have my coloring books,” she remembered, describing early lessons in discipline and focus.
Triumphs from High School to Harvard University
Jackson told the audience about missing her high school graduation as class president to attend a national forensics competition. With a smile, she explained, “I won, so it was worth it.”
At Harvard, Jackson faced racism directly. She recalled when a large Confederate flag was displayed on campus, illuminated for all to see. Together with fellow members of the Black Student Association, she campaigned tirelessly for its removal. Reflecting on Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison’s words — “The very real function of racism is distraction” — Jackson said she realized the importance of staying focused. “We need to make sure we are continuing to do the work,” she told students.
Stories of Family, Humor, and Identity
The justice also shared lighter moments. She recounted how she first thought her now-husband Patrick was ignoring her in one Harvard class, only to learn she had confused him with his identical twin.
Jackson also explained her decision to wear sisterlocks, inspired by a woman she once saw on the street. The style, which she has maintained for 18 years with the same stylist, allowed her to embrace her identity while saving time. “I needed something true to who I was,” she said.
She and Patrick also consulted their daughters before her Supreme Court nomination process. Her eldest, diagnosed with autism, gave her blessing with confidence. Jackson quoted her daughter’s words: “This is who I am. There’s nothing wrong with me. This is the way I navigate the world.”
Audience Reaction: Inspiration and Representation
For attendees, the justice’s words carried deep meaning. Christal Carmichael, a psychology professor at North Carolina Central University, described Jackson’s appearance as “amazing.” She praised the justice for showing strength and vulnerability at once.
Carmichael, an FSU graduate and licensed therapist, said Jackson’s story demonstrated that Black women can balance demanding careers with family life. “That’s so very much needed for Black women today,” she said. Others in attendance echoed her thoughts, calling Jackson’s visit a message of perseverance, power, and possibility.
