Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed agreement with former First Lady Michelle Obama’s criticism of elite colleges isolating students of color during a recent episode of Obama’s podcast on Wednesday, July 30th, 2026. Jackson supported Obama’s assertion that schools do a disservice to students of color by "plucking them out and making them one of a few, and then scattering them about the campus."

Jackson, a 1992 Harvard College graduate who also earned her law degree from Harvard, reflected on her own experience at the university. She noted that at the time she attended, there was a sizable Black community on campus, which helped her feel at home. She shared, "And it was like, I found my people, in a sense," and described living with five other Black women among six on campus, all within a larger supportive community.

Jackson recused herself from the Supreme Court case concerning Harvard admissions due to her prior service on Harvard’s Board of Overseers. Meanwhile, Harvard has faced scrutiny over its admissions policies. Among students who reported their race, Black students accounted for 11.5% of the Class of 2029, a decline from 14% in the Class of 2028 and 18% in the Class of 2027.

In June, Harvard moved to dismiss the case, stating it had changed its admissions procedures immediately after the ruling, blocked application reviewers from seeing race check-box information, and produced extensive documentation demonstrating compliance. Harvard affirmed in a February statement to Fox News Digital, "Harvard is committed to following the law, including civil rights laws in connection with admissions and financial aid, and Harvard has complied with and continues to comply with the law under the Students for Fair Admissions decision."

Notable Quotes

  • "You don’t do kids of color service by plucking them out and making them one of a few, and then scattering them about the campus," Michelle Obama said.
  • "At the time that I went to Harvard, which, we’re contemporaries in terms of the timing of it, there was a sizable Black community on campus," Jackson said.
  • "And it was like, I found my people, in a sense," Jackson added.
  • "The people who had similar life experiences and backgrounds that I had, where you could feel totally comfortable being yourself," Jackson remarked.
  • "And my roommates and I... I roomed with five other Black women, and there were six of us on campus, and then we were within this larger community, and it was just amazing," Jackson said.

Background

Michelle Obama, who earned her law degree from Harvard but was a Princeton undergraduate, has been vocal about the challenges faced by students of color at elite institutions. Jackson’s comments reinforce the perspective that fostering a substantial community rather than isolating individuals is crucial for student success.

Sources