In the Balance Between History and Future – And Paving the Way Forward by fixing the U.S. Supreme Court

By Rev. Dr. Cathy Clardy Patterson for United for Democracy

Rev. Dr. Cathy Clardy Patterson

As African Americans, we live in the balance of this country’s promises: ‘government of, by, and for the people’ and ‘equal justice under law.’ We live in the precarious present, straddled between our history of absolute disenfranchisement and a dreamed-about future where our freedoms are guaranteed without question. We live in the “yet to be” of Maya Angelou’s “These Yet To Be United States” that forces us, too often, to face pain and fear rather than share in the aspirations of progress.

The United States Supreme Court is, today, responsible for much of that pain and fear and uncertainty. But, as our ancestors and elders have taught us: it does not have to be this way.

Under the control of the current supermajority the courtroom is now a means of advancing policies to serve the ultra rich and powerful — while we pay the price. As the U.S. Supreme Court takes away our rights and freedoms — to be heard at work and at the ballot box, our reproductive freedom, and to live in safety with clean water and away from violence — we see the parallels of this high court to that of our ancestors.

In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, ruling in favor of “separate but equal” and turning back the clock on our ancestors’ newfound freedoms. Yet in the face of Jim Crow, our elders organized, sermonized and marched — building community and power in any and every way they could.

Then, finally, the U.S. Supreme Court caught up to them: It ruled against segregation and in favor of reproductive choice, interracial marriage, and our Miranda Rights. Our elders brought about a new era of the Court.

Now, in the face of the current broken U.S. Supreme Court’s commitment to turning back the clock on the freedoms and liberties we’ve gained, we must do it again.

We should not have to fight this hard to protect our freedoms; but, we do not have a choice. We will build power in our congregations, with our friends, families and neighbors to elect leaders who can appoint justices that represent us and pass legislation to fix the U.S. Supreme Court. We will build power so that after the votes are tallied and balloons are popped, we can hold those elected leaders accountable to taking action.

We will build power so one day we no longer live in the precarious balance of fear and hope. One day, we will no longer have to chase the promises of ‘government of, by, and for the people’ and ‘equal justice under law’ — they will simply be our birthright.