. McBride likened the moment more to a glass elevator than a glass ceiling, moving one level up, while keeping in mind the many more levels left to go. In 2013, as she watched President Barack Obama's second inauguration, 7-year-old Veronica Bofah decided she wanted to be just like him. She would go to Harvard and one day be president, too.
“Having someone who knows what it's like to support clients who are disadvantaged in the system ... I think that's kind of what makes her unique," Bofah said. When barriers are broken, McBride said, it is often followed by backlash or a feeling that marginalized communities should be satisfied with the symbolism. While Jackson would bring an invaluable perspective to the court, McBride said, it is not lost on her that the balance of the court would remain unchanged if Jackson were confirmed.
“The really, really stressful thing about being Black, specifically being a Black woman, is that you have to be the best in order to get anywhere,” McBride said. Black women are often told their natural hair is unprofessional, said Tamara Morgan, 18, an Atlanta high school senior. Their natural appearances are held against them, and used to take away from their qualifications, she said.