As President Joe Biden prepares to deliver on his promise to nominate the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, Black Americans in the legal profession say they feel conflicting emotions: vindication and pride, exasperation and dread.
While they appreciate Biden's determination to make history as he vets candidates, they worry about his overt use of race as a prerequisite at such a hyperpartisan time. Black Americans already find themselves having to defend against accusations that they're not as skilled, intelligent or prepared as their fellow white citizens.
"My initial reaction was probably like most Black folks: It's about time," says Merle Vaughn, an attorney and recruiter in Los Angeles who specializes in helping big firms hire lawyers of color. "He's keeping his promise to Black women because Black women put him in the White House.
