Today We Mourn RBG, Tomorrow We Fight For Her Legacy!

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. RBG. Notorious RBG. She is a symbol of determination, equity, and change. A true feminist icon, RBG’s legacy to enhance women’s liberation is unparalleled. While RBG’s legal contributions have shaped our nation, her influence expands far beyond the legal realm.

Her empowerment transcends generations of people and her popularity has led to books, documentaries, a biopic, countless interviews, speeches, and all-encompassing merchandising.  RBG’s representation matters. She was only the second woman to ever be appointed to the Supreme Court. When she graduated law school she discussed the challenges she faced finding employment despite graduating at the top of her class. She has been open about the obstacles she faced for being a woman, for being Jewish, and for being a working mother. She used the challenges that trailblazing equality has presented as opportunities for societal change. She is known for fiercely dissenting on many critical issues. She inspired generations of people, particularly women, to not to short-change their dreams and inspirations. When society said to be docile, silent, and compliant, she modeled how to be powerful, intelligent, and strong.

Sometimes, RBG’s contribution was more subtle—but nevertheless it was felt.  In determining it was improper for a school to strip-search a teenage girl who was accused of bringing in ibuprofen for menstrual cramps, Justice Ginsburg shared with USA Today, “It’s a very sensitive age for a girl . . . I didn’t think that my colleagues, some of them, quite understood.” Her humanity often shone through.

How do we say goodbye to Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Let us extend her legacy on gender injustice by ferociously dismantling all systems of oppression. Let us dissent each time we are met with injustice. Let her memory live on forever in the hearts of those who fight for liberation and equity. May Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy outlive us all.