Ruth Bader Ginsburg, known in progressive circles as the “Notorious RBG”, has reportedly passed away. The news broke yesterday September 19, 2020.
While the facts surrounding her death are unclear at the moment, this post is to commemorate her legacy. This commemoration is in-part because she has paved the way for women and men alike, in so many ways, it would require more words than I can type to try and encapsulate her impact.
Regardless of our political stance, the Notorious RBG stands as an aspirational figure.
I will discuss the political fallout here, on my YouTube channel.
This tribute is limited to my personal encounters and experiences with Ruth Bader Ginsburg her writings, and her extraordinary ability to stand firm in the things she believed.
Last night after the news broke of her passing, the Supreme Court held a silent memorial for the late Supreme Court Justice.
A perk of living in the capital is the ability to partake directly in events such as this, sharing in the celebration of her legacy while mourning our loss in her absence.
As I look at the crowd, a smile came across my face. It was the awkward smile that was filled with sorrow and the presence of a funny memory.
I remember reading one of her opinions in law school, realizing I did not know where she was going nor how she would rule. Not even after finishing the opinion was I able to articulate what the opinion was about. I started feeling small, inadequate…
I did not understand what she said.
Thankfully (my ego), I was not the only one.
The entire class was having trouble until the professor explained the opinion. I wish I could say her opinions got easier, they did not. They were complex, they required thought and even the people who agreed with her, after deciphering what she said, did not get it on the first read.
She was a great legal thinker, even if some would criticize her for judicial activism.
I had the opportunity to meet RBG three (3) times in my life, I took all three opportunities. I distinctively remember her sitting in the middle of my class as we spoke to her, crowding around her. I remember not being able to move or breathe as the pile of students created a cluster, I remember thinking of her and whether she could breathe properly… if she could not, I did not notice as she smiled and continued to take questions.
My classmates have been posting their pictures as well today, remembering the times they met her.
Remembering the times they went to our gym to see if the rumors that she worked out at our school were true, they were.
I think an interaction that underscores Justice Ginsburg’s icon status among feminists has to be her remarks on the Supreme Court.
Justice Ginsburg was asked, “When will there be enough women on the Court?”
Her reply was both witty and direct, she stated…
“When there are nine…”
To which antifeminist took issue, pointing out that feminists do not want equality they want the power to dominate.
They had ignored the rest of the statement and therefore bastardized her stance.
Justice Ginsburg explained “When there are nine. People are shocked, but there had been nine men, and nobody ever raised a question about that.”
Like her opinions, Justice Ginsburg is known for providing context, she did not only say what we wanted to hear, she explained in detail what her decisions meant, which gave valuable insight into the way she saw the would.
This is how I choose to remember this brilliant woman.
