I had the great pleasure to sit in on today's KLRU Overheard with Evan Smith by invitation of my grandmother, the notorious rabble-rouser, Nancy Neavel.
Smith, also of Texas Tribune fame, interviewed Supreme Court Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor. She is the court's first Latina justice, its third female justice and its 111th justice to serve. Although I put the "Latina" designation first, because I think that she is another one of our century's great glass-ceiling breakers, she told Smith that she thinks of herself as a justice that is hispanic, not a "Hispanic Justice."
Sotomayor learned just before the interview that her book My Beloved World, and the reason for this journey to Austin, has reached number one spot on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Smith "gave Jon Stewart a run for his money," said Sotomayor, with his personal and lighthearted questions - he asked her about A-Rod's performance and her love of the New York Yankees.
She said at the beginning of the interview that she wanted people to take away a certain feeling from the book, the feeling that "She's just like me. And if she can do it, I can do it too," Sotomayor said.
I haven't read the book yet, and I fully intend to buy it ASAP, but below are some of the things she said that struck me to the core. My eyes were watering, and I was overcome with emotion at her passion and her complete sureness of self as she told us tidbits from her life. She imparted precious advice to those of us still finding our way in the world:
"It is your obligation to be citizens, to get up and be heard. To agitate... Not sit back and let things happen." This bit is hard for me. As a citizen I am all about speaking my mind and sharing my opinions. As a journalist, my ethics create a fine line. I'm learning every day how to balance speaking truth to power but doing so in a way that is true and transparent for the reader.
In the audience were 20 or so young girls from Galindo Elementary (Go Grizzlies!), a predominantly Hispanic school, where about 92 percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged. Three of the students stood up at during the Q & A session at the end of the taping. One of them asked Sotomayor if she knew what a Title I school was. The Justice said she didn't. The student told her something along the lines that it meant Galindo didn't have enough money to buy things they needed, like pencils.
It broke my heart.
This was a reminder that even in our own amazing Austin community, the capitol of Texas no less, poverty and inequality continue to exist at the most basic levels. But listening to Sotomayor re-kindled my fiery spirit, reminding me that people like her are coming out of the woodwork in increasing numbers fighting for justice "fairness" in the true sense of the word.
The most hard-hitting advice Sotomayor voiced during Overheard was about being Latina. I'm an incognito Latina-Gringa. My father is Mexican-American and my mother is Non-Hispanic White. But I'm not bi-cultural, I never truly dove into the Mexican culture. I've often felt guilt for not being a "true Latina," for not speaking Spanish (although I'm learning slowly), for not knowing all the cultural cues. So when a new father asked Sotomayor what advice she had for parents raising a half-Latina, half-white daughter, I was all ears.
Sotomayor told the new father to teach his daughter to "have confidence" in her half-Latina heritage. To teach her to "Never apologize... but to revel in it."
Thank you Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor, I'm ready to be braver than I was before.
Smith, also of Texas Tribune fame, interviewed Supreme Court Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor. She is the court's first Latina justice, its third female justice and its 111th justice to serve. Although I put the "Latina" designation first, because I think that she is another one of our century's great glass-ceiling breakers, she told Smith that she thinks of herself as a justice that is hispanic, not a "Hispanic Justice."
Sotomayor learned just before the interview that her book My Beloved World, and the reason for this journey to Austin, has reached number one spot on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Smith "gave Jon Stewart a run for his money," said Sotomayor, with his personal and lighthearted questions - he asked her about A-Rod's performance and her love of the New York Yankees.
She said at the beginning of the interview that she wanted people to take away a certain feeling from the book, the feeling that "She's just like me. And if she can do it, I can do it too," Sotomayor said.
I haven't read the book yet, and I fully intend to buy it ASAP, but below are some of the things she said that struck me to the core. My eyes were watering, and I was overcome with emotion at her passion and her complete sureness of self as she told us tidbits from her life. She imparted precious advice to those of us still finding our way in the world:
"If you never aim high, you never get to move forward." It took me a while - until the past few years of my young adult life - to figure this one out. In fact, I have self-esteem issues (who doesn't) out the wazoo and have struggled with self-confidence and that whole "believing in yourself" thing most of my life. But this mentality is the only way any of us will make it where we want to be. As Johnny Depp said in Pirates of the Caribbean "Bring me that horizon."
"People will tell you things that they normally wouldn't share, because you're willing to be vulnerable to them." Along with low self-esteem comes the fear of vulnerability. It has taken me most of my life to get over this fear of imperfection and boldy share my bumbling, awesome self with the world. Once I began letting others in, they became more willing to share their friendship and own fears and joys with me. This advice from Sotomayor is especially important for those who think they can get through life all by themselves. None of us are so self-sufficient that we don't lean on someone every now and again.
"Books were my plane ride to the rest of the world." Mine too. I immersed myself in literature at a young age so deeply that my mother often berated me to go spend time with friends. For me, the world of books was a much better adventure than any adventure my peers could dream up. I've branched out since then and go on more actual adventures, instead of solely literary ones, but I always treasure my reading time.
"I have felt like an alien landing in a different universe... Making myself feel comfortable has been very hard." Sotomayor added that she often feels simultaneously comfortable and uncomfortable, whatever place she finds herself in. Same here. It's such a relief to hear a great role-model and extremely successful person admit that she isn't always comfortable in her surroundings. For me, getting used to a new internship, job, class, school, social group or social gathering always takes some easing into. I'll often have a small anxiety attack and forget to breathe while in the midst of a conversation or particularly uncomfortable situation.
"You can't succeed if you're not willing to say 'I don't know.'"and "Don't be afraid of failure... It's fear that stops most people from realizing their dreams." I think for me, especially, the fear of failure hindered my ability to admit that I don't know everything. I've had to separate the idea that when I say "I don't know," I'm somehow failing. Admitting I'm unsure is not failure, but winning a battle of the knowledge war. As far as letting myself lose the battle to win the war: I'm slowly learning to put aside my protective arrogance and let the failures come. Now I relish the small mistakes I make every day as learning experiences that only help me grow smarter and stronger.
"It is your obligation to be citizens, to get up and be heard. To agitate... Not sit back and let things happen." This bit is hard for me. As a citizen I am all about speaking my mind and sharing my opinions. As a journalist, my ethics create a fine line. I'm learning every day how to balance speaking truth to power but doing so in a way that is true and transparent for the reader.
In the audience were 20 or so young girls from Galindo Elementary (Go Grizzlies!), a predominantly Hispanic school, where about 92 percent of the student population is economically disadvantaged. Three of the students stood up at during the Q & A session at the end of the taping. One of them asked Sotomayor if she knew what a Title I school was. The Justice said she didn't. The student told her something along the lines that it meant Galindo didn't have enough money to buy things they needed, like pencils.
It broke my heart.
This was a reminder that even in our own amazing Austin community, the capitol of Texas no less, poverty and inequality continue to exist at the most basic levels. But listening to Sotomayor re-kindled my fiery spirit, reminding me that people like her are coming out of the woodwork in increasing numbers fighting for justice "fairness" in the true sense of the word.
The most hard-hitting advice Sotomayor voiced during Overheard was about being Latina. I'm an incognito Latina-Gringa. My father is Mexican-American and my mother is Non-Hispanic White. But I'm not bi-cultural, I never truly dove into the Mexican culture. I've often felt guilt for not being a "true Latina," for not speaking Spanish (although I'm learning slowly), for not knowing all the cultural cues. So when a new father asked Sotomayor what advice she had for parents raising a half-Latina, half-white daughter, I was all ears.
Sotomayor told the new father to teach his daughter to "have confidence" in her half-Latina heritage. To teach her to "Never apologize... but to revel in it."
Thank you Justice Sonia Maria Sotomayor, I'm ready to be braver than I was before.