Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Champion of race and gender equality. Supreme court justice. An inspiration to the world. 

   A leader, who built a legacy on her name and was a successful human being during her time. She accomplished big things and strived to make the world a better place. 

   It was on September 18, 2020, when she took her last breath as she had complications from cancer. She was battling metastatic pancreatic cancer for over 20 years.

   She will never be forgotten. 

   Ginsburg was the oldest member of the court. She was born March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY. She had a sister who died when they were young, and she lost her mother to cancer at 17.

   These tragedies did not stop her from achieving her goals. She served as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union during the 1970s.

   Later on, she was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1980. She continued to argue for gender and racial equality. “She believed that the law was gender-blind and all groups were entitled to equal rights. One of the five cases she won before the Supreme Court involved a portion of the Social Security Act that favored women over men because it granted certain benefits to widows but not widowers.” (HISTORY.com) Not only did she want to make the system right, but she wanted it to be superior. 

   Ginsburg dealt with several crucial health problems for more than two decades. She still managed to become the voice for gender and racial equality, as well as minorities. In RBG, the 2018 documentary about her life, Ginsburg said that her run-ins with cancer had given her “an enhanced appreciation of the joys of being alive.” (WebMD) Cancer did not stop her, she was a true fighter. This encouraged people to advocate for change. 

   Ruth Bader Ginsburg was seen as a feminist symbol, a civil rights hero. She wrote the court’s opinion in the United States v. Virginia case, ruling that qualified women could not be denied admission to the Virginia Military Institute. She will always and forever be the champion of gender equality. Senior Khaira Kure says Ruth “was so powerful and dedicated to her work, she never gave up no matter what was thrown at her. She always managed to find herself brilliant and with wisdom.” She created a huge effect on many. She showed how the law changes a person.

   Her legacy in court was not the only way she shall be remembered. Her setbacks are what made her a true champion. Ginsburg achieved MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Real-Life Hero (2019), Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Glamour Woman of the Year Award (1993), and Glamour Award for The Supreme Force. (2012) She did all this while battling cancer, shows how dedicated she was to her work and how inspiring she was. Vice President of Girl Power Mia Carlini says, “Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives me the courage every day to continue my fight for gender equality and civil rights. She was the second woman to ever serve on the United States Supreme Court and her many accomplishments remind me it is possible to achieve true equality.” 

From gender and racial equality, as well as women’s rights, Ruth did not leave the world in vain, but stronger than when she came in. Ruth was a truly inspiring and amazing human being, there was no weak bone in her body. Everything she has done for people will never be forgotten. She plays an important role in the evolution of equality.