A few minutes ago, Al Franken, who himself went through a few months of struggle attaining his position as senator of Minnesota, confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court Justice, 68-31. We all know the biography: products of hard-working Puerto-Rican parents, Bronx-native, came through Catholic education and through the Ivy Leagues, rose up the ranks of the US justice system, lauded by prominent liberals and conservatives alike, and an excellent example of someone whose hard work, intelligence, demeanor, and persistence benefited her. As the first Latina and the third female Supreme Court justice ever, she’s the pride of the many people invested in each of these groups.

People all over Twitter, interestingly, were concerned that she’d never get in, with good reason. The backlash against every decision President Obama’s made or planned probably puts at least a little angst if not outright fear into every other American who’s not a right-wing extremist (and that crowd’s getting smaller as it gets louder). Even non-racial topics like health care have been racialized simply by Obama’s imprint being there. While I’m quick to verbalize my disagreements against Obama and anyone else who sides against the 98% of us who aren’t rich, I also don’t get disagreeable and personal, and that’s where some of these orchestrated zombie mobs get it wrong. Questions about whether Obama was born here or in Africa or whether he’s really on the side of Islamic terrorists simply because his first and middle name “sound Arabic” are ridiculous.

With all that said, it’s important to look at the nomination of Sotomayor as true progress. This generation has grown tired of hearing about the “firsts” and we’re hungry for more. I would now ask us to keep looking forward and measuring progress as more than milestones but in cultural movements where underrepresented people can truly be represented (I don’t subscribe to the word minority as there’s nothing minor about me). As the backlash of progress starts to increase from those who want to preserve the status quo and even regress, it’s incumbent on people of all colors concerned with the advancement of this country as a whole to do their part in making these growing issues a part of their work.

Siempre pa’lante, pa’lante …

Jose, who’s really proud of her …