Inspiring America: Three WCL Students Interviewed by Kristen Welker on NBC Nightly News
On Friday, April 8, 2022, three WCL law students, Rolonda Donelson, Imani Brooks & Nia Langley, spoke to NBC's Kristen Welker on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
Filmed in the historic Stephen S. Weinstein Courtroom at WCL, Kristen Welker asked the women their perspectives on the significance of Judge Jackson's nomination, their journey as Black female lawyers navigating law school, and where they hope their career will take them after completing their education.
Rolonda Donelson hopes to focus her career on reproductive law to make a difference in women's lives across the U.S. "At times, as a Black woman in law, it can feel like you have to work twice as hard as everyone else to get to the same place," said Donelson.
In two centuries, only 71 Black women have served as federal judges, less than 2% of all judges. Judge Jackson's ascension to the highest court in the United States inspires Imani Brooks into continuing her dream of being appointed to the bench one day. "It doesn't matter where you come from or what you look like, you can aspire to whatever dreams you want," said Brooks, "It has been a personal inspiration for me to see her becoming a Justice."
Nia Langley reflected on Judge Jackson as a trailblazer and how it reaffirms her sense of belonging as a Black female lawyer. "Her presence tells me that I do belong. Someone who looks like me is now, for the first time, interpreting the nation's laws at the highest level."