A Triumph for Latinos, Women & Type 1 Diabetics
Sonia Sotomayor’s Success Story Culminates in A Historic Nomination
May 28, 2009
First an Assistant District Attorney, then a Federal District Judge, followed by an Appellant Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has been the guiding beacon of American success for countless immigrants. Only the third women, behind Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor is the first Hispanic to be nominated to the highest court in America. Nearly 55 years old, the Judge has 17 years of experience and “…a common sense understanding of how laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives,” according to President Barack Obama in his May 26th presentation.
America’s Largest Ethnic Minority
The US Census Bureau states, “44.3 million [is] the estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2006….[and]…they are the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority.” Latinos are also the fastest growing group in the USA as well. The Bureau said, “102.6 million [is] the projected Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2050.”
Hispanics have made in roads in regional areas of the USA and in some industries. California, Texas, Florida and the Southwestern states have large numbers of Hispanic legislators, media personal and small business owners. However, the legal field is seriously underrepresented. Judge Sotomayor’s nomination illustrates that the elusive position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court is now open to Hispanics.
Women Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices
Since it inception in 1789, there have been 108 different justices of the Supreme Court. In 220 years of the court’s existence only 2 justices have been women and none have been of Hispanic origin. Judge Sotomayor will increase the number of women by 50%..
According to Helen Tierney’s book, Women’s Studies Encyclopedia, “Prior to President Carter’s term…only 8 women had ever served as federal judges in the entire history of the United States….Clinton raised the ratio of women to 14%....” It has remained fairly constant the last 10 years yet it is still a disproportionately low number. The simple nomination of Judge Sotomayor brings this fact to the forefront for women.
Role Model for Type 1 Diabetics
In President Obama’s speech he said, “…she [Sonia] was diagnosed with diabetes… she was informed that people with diabetes can't….” For young diabetics it may be an unusual statement that diabetics can’t do certain things. Times have changed, mostly due to people like Judge Sotomayor.
Mary Cary of US News and World Reportwrote in her May 27th article, Sonia Sotomayor a Role Model for Kids with Diabetes. “When I repeated [Obama's] passage to my daughter…she asked. ‘Why would they tell her she couldn't….They don't tell kids with diabetes nonsense like that anymore’.”
In the online health center of the American Diabetes Association, myths and folklore are discussed. While research and advances in medicine have grown, successful diabetics have been the best deflators of the word "can’t" in their lives. Cary continued, “…most teenagers know what the Supreme Court is…. The girls with diabetes, especially, could benefit from seeing someone like [Sotomayor] rise to the top.”
The American Dream, a common bond between the President, Judge Sotomayor, blacks and immigrants, is routed in education, hard work and family. Sonia Sotomayor’s intelligence, mother and fortitude have aided her in her quest; but what distinguishes her as a positive role model are her character, stamina, family and difficult personal history.
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