BY DWAYNE ASHLEY, CEO, BRIDGE PHILANTHROPIC CONSULTING
Bridge Philanthropic Consulting joins the country in mourning the death of United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died September 18, 2020. We extend our deep condolences to the Ginsburg Family on the loss of their Mother and Grandmother who gave her life to serving her country.
In 1960, when Brooklyn-born Justice Ginsburg was beginning her legal career, she was turned down for a clerkship on the High Court stemming from gender bias, a seed was planted deep inside Justice Ginsburg that resulted in her becoming a lifelong legal advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. Thirty-three years after receiving that rejection from the Supreme Court, she became the second female and the first Jewish female justice nominated to the High Court. “My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady. The other was to be independent,” she often said.
She took her mother’s advice to heart; Justice Ginsburg exhibited her willingness to stand up for her beliefs, even when it was not easy or popular. As she continued garnering extraordinary legal victories and steadfast advocacy for women’s rights on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg fellow jurists affectionately and aptly began calling her the “Thurgood Marshall of women’s causes.” Legal scholars consistently credit her body of work with making significant legal advances in civil rights and human rights and combatting discrimination.
Justice Ginsburg was also widely recognized with awards and honors for her resolute and untiring commitment to philanthropy and service as well as cultural, social, and ethical advances. In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture for her decades of contributions to social justice and equality. She promptly gave her $1 million prize to a charity. Earlier this year, she presented the inaugural Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Woman of Leadership Award to its first recipient. These awards represented but a few of the many created to recognize and laud Justice Ginsburg’s generosity in committing her brilliant legal mind, compassion, and energies to causes that helped to advance indelible change in the world.
There were many sides to the famous jurist, who became a pop culture figure when she was an octogenarian. Dubbed “The Notorious R.B.G.,” a play on the moniker given to Brooklyn-born rapper Notorious B.IG., she accepted the title with humor and grace. When she hung up her robe at the end of the day, she was a fervent patron of the performing arts who had a particular devotion to attending jazz and opera performances. Underneath the robe, she also displayed her flair for fashion through her choice of stylish clothing that cloaked a small frame with a fiery passion for justice.
BPC is especially touched by her determination to hang on until the end, driven by her love of our country and democracy. Justice Ginsburg represents everything BPC’s mission is about: social justice, social change, and advocacy. BPC will continue to be inspired by her life, her work, her grit, and her unfailing commitment to advancing social change.
Editor’s Note:
Since 2016, Bridge Philanthropic Consulting’s (BPC) mission has been to bridge relationships and resources to impact social change. BPC is the nation’s largest full-service African-American owned fundraising firm. For more information visit the website and social media networks at: http://bridgephilanthropicconsulting.com/about/
