An Evening with Ketanji Brown Jackson

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The Gantt Center is excited to welcome Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to Charlotte for a special evening to discuss her inspiring memoir, Lovely One. This historic occasion features Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, alongside trailblazer, Harvey B. Gantt, the first Black mayor of Charlotte and first Black student to integrate Clemson University.

Justice Jackson will reflect on her remarkable journey – from her family’s legacy beyond segregation to her groundbreaking confirmation. With honesty and heart, she will share powerful personal stories of her parents’ nurturing love and support during her upbringing, reflecting the aspirations of a post-Civil Rights era. Offering a profound look at the values that shaped her path, her life is also one of perseverance, hope, and ambition.

Lovely One is a compelling reminder of the strength found in bold dreams and determination.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear directly from one of today's most influential and motivational voices.

"Ketanji Brown Jackson's memoir Lovely One is a determinedly upbeat chronicle of achievement, offering readers a story of resilience, optimism, and purpose. She assures us that ‘if you are diligent and well prepared, relentlessly optimistic, and resolute in purpose, you will be capable of creating a brilliant future for yourself.’ Her life, shaped by both privilege and the challenges of racism, is an inspiration for all who dare to dream of a more just and equitable society.”
–The Washington Post

Books may be purchased at the event.

In her memoir, Lovely One (Random House), Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, offers a moving, open-hearted account of her life, from her family's rise out of segregation to her confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice, within the span of only one generation.

Named "Ketanji Onyika," meaning "lovely one," based on a suggestion from her aunt, a Peace Corps worker stationed in West Africa, Justice Jackson learned from her educator parents to take pride in her heritage from the beginning. She describes her determination as a young girl to honor this legacy and pursue her dreams: from hearing stories of her grandparents and parents breaking barriers in the segregated South, to honing her voice in high school as an oratory champion and student body president, to graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, where she performed in musical theater and improv and participated in key student organizations.

Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, connecting her public record with the lesser-known aspects of her life. She shows what it takes to succeed in the legal field when most people in power don’t look like you, and how to balance a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood.