Lovely One

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism. 

Jackson recalls introducing Patrick to her family for the first time. While Ketanji’s parents could see that Patrick was a good person who cared about Ketanji, they were also concerned that they would face discrimination as a mixed-race couple. Jackson was hurt that her parents thought that Patrick might leave her if they experienced such challenges and was frustrated by their doubts, but she tried to gently reassure them. Jackson knew that Patrick had a very different upbringing from her own as the son of an upper-class family from Cape Cod, but she felt welcomed by his warm and hardworking parents. More difficult to overcome were Jackson’s own insecurities about her looks and lovability, which had rooted themselves in her mind after her experiences in high school. The two were also on demanding career paths, as Patrick was beginning medical school at Columbia University and Jackson was completing her degree at Harvard. With so much uncertainty, Jackson felt nervous about their relationship’s future.

Jackson recalls a devastating childhood experience in which a little white boy she had befriended told her that he was not allowed to be friends with her and that they could not play together anymore.