Dragon and I recently read the latest Supreme Court Justice’s memoir: My Beloved World.
I knew nothing about Sotomayor’s history before reading this title and I feel like it gave an interesting and appropriate glimpse into the early life of such a powerful public figure.
Sotomayor is the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants, her father an alcoholic who died young and her mother a health care worker who worked her way up the ladder of care provider over time.
Sotomayor herself was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in an era when proper treatment was still sketchy but she learned as a young child how to give herself injections and talked about how the experience of having a significant illness resulted in early maturity.
Her stories of growing up in an ethnic neighborhood in New York was touching and illuminating. I know very little about the experience of Puerto Rican immigrants and this was a good introduction.
But my favorite part of the book was when she covered her time at Ivy League schools. She was admitted during the early days of Affirmative Action and excelled from there on her own merits. The most touching moment came when she talked about one of the volunteer projects she engaged in. She and fellow students began spending time at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital and translating for patients who didn’t speak English. I can only imagine how frightening it must be to be ill, hospitalized and unable to communicate.
I was very sorry to hear about Sotomayor’s divorce from her childhood sweetheart. It was the only situation I picked up on where her career negatively impacted her private life. It also meant that she ended up not having children. I can relate to choosing adult pursuits over motherhood but I think it was hard on her.
I can recommend this title, regardless of what you think of her rulings. It was illuminating to hear from a woman who at every step in her life held fast to the strength of her Hispanic heritage while at the same time excelling in a traditionally white milieu.
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