Sonia Sotomayor PHOTOS: Pictures Of Her Childhood And Her Family

Sonia Sotomayor was chosen by President Barack Obama to be the first Hispanic Justice on the Supreme Court Tuesday. Read 10 things you should know about Sotomayor here; for more, check out Sotomayor's BigNews page.

In conjunction with her nomination the White House released this afternoon an interesting collection of personal photos from Sotomayor's life. The pictures span from her childhood to the present day, There are some particularly nice photos of Sotomayor and her mother Celina, whom she paid tribute to today by saying: "I stand on the shoulders of countless people, yet there is one extraordinary person who is my life aspiration. That person is my mother, Celina Sotomayor."

Photos courtesy of the White House.

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Sotomayor in 2009

Comments

[nikto]

OMG, a "regular person" in the SCOTUS. Ofcourse she's so "regular" she
was 2nd in her class of 475 at Princeton. But that would be mere "merit".
I guess to some folks she just wasn't born "right" (right class, color, etc).

I say, Screw 'em. Judge Sotomayor is
measurably more qualified academically
than at least several of the court's present members!

And her less-than-­priveleged background
only add to the richness of her judgemental abilities.

And her demeanor, skin tone and hair are wonderful---Totally American and REAL.

[janeInCA]

'nough said; totally agreed

[Overlady]

Please treat this Woman with Dignity & Respect,

This great intellectual woman makes our family proud to be Puerto Rican, Hispanic & most important, Americans. Puerto Rico (Rich Port in English) is a Commonwealth of the Unite States. Sonia Sotomayor is a great role model for our daughters. Her mind, intellect and accomplishments represent the great dreams that minorities and all Americans aspire to achieve. Her presence on the Supreme Court is not to intimidate or bring fear. Like all the other supreme justices, Honorable Sotomayor will bring her rich life experiences as well as her education & great knowledge of the law to this distinguished bench. Her wisdom will bring professionalism and fairness. Please address & present this great woman to our public with fair & unbiased reports. It is appropriate to focus on the real issues rather than slander & insults. Remember that Hispanic Americans have feelings that will, at the end of the day influence the way we vote. Thank you :-)

[BankerTee]

Beautiful! Proud!! Change has INDEED come to America.

[Lauren Collier 1]

I am delighted that we will now have (hopefully) representation on the SC that may better understand issues dealing with Latinos. Now we need someone who can understand issues relating to African-Americans. Clarence Thomas is just a puppet and he loathes African-Americans, including himself...

[Bronxdude]

Carl Rove has repeatedly stated that Judge Sonia Sotomayor lacks the intellectual ability to sit on the Supreme Court. What makes Carl Rove (high school graduate and Bush’s minion/hand puppet) competent to critique Judge Sotomayor’s intellectual attributes? Let’s review the facts. After graduating valedictorian from New York’s prestigious Cardinal Spellman High School, Judge Sotomayor went on to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton, and later received a law degree from Yale, where she was also elected Editor of the influential Yale Law Journal. In comparison, Bush was a legacy admission to Yale and graduated “thank-you-laude” with a paltry C average. Why is it that every minority candidate (Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas, and Sonia Sotomayor) nominated to the Supreme Court has been criticized by White (male) pundits as being intellectually incompetent? Even though Judge Alito was affiliated with a racist organization (he denied knowing the group was racist) while at Princeton and had an unremarkable tenure as a student while attending law school at Yale, no one ever questioned his intellectual ability before and during his confirmation hearing.

[OB08]

Sotomayor graduated 2nd in her class at Princeston. What place did Rove graduated in at Princeston? I know he wasn't in the top 10. Sotomayor has more brains than Meirs that Rove tried to sneek in the supreme court.

[ItHadToBeSaid]

"Bush was a legacy admission to Yale and graduated "thank-you-laude" with a paltry C average."

LOL!!

On a serious note, your post reflects the experiences of several people of color. As many African-Americans have been taught, "You have to be twice as good to get half as far" as your white counterparts. And even when you succeed, whites will STILL not recognize your abilities. I personally believe its the result of generational conditioning and long-held racist beliefs. Many whites just refuse to believe that a person of color can outperform them on any level. And when it happens, they say just about anything to diminish the accomplishment. Lame arguments, stereotypical fallacies, you name it. All the more reason to instill confidence and keep encouraging children of color to define their own destinies and not leave it up to anyone else.

[noudidnt]

"Even though Judge Alito was affiliated with a racist organization (he denied knowing the group was racist) while at Princeton and had an unremarkable tenure as a student while attending law school at Yale, no one ever questioned his intellectual ability before and during his confirmation hearing."


Whyte privilege

[Roxie74]

I meant Princeton...

[Roxie74]

She was a real cutie at Yale. She still has a great smile, it indicates warmth of spirit

[CarlosQC]

Why some people still believe there is such a thing as Hispanic community?

Firstly, Hispanic is a racist term that refers exclusevely to Spanish heritage and people. Most of people from Latin America in the U.S. are either Native Americans or Afro descendants. We are not Hispanics.

And we don't think alike, we don't support same politics, we are not one cohesive and united community. What do Native Chicanos, Black Dominicans or Afro Peruvians born or raised in the U.S. have in common with a Nuyorican Judge like Sonia Sotomayor? Nothing, mist of them don't even speak Spanish in the first place.

Stop this Hispanic non sense.

Oh, looking at these photos, it doesn't seem to me that Sonia Sotomayor was the poor kid growing in ghetto South Bronx. And she looks white...

[sankofaman]

Co-signing on the CLARITY of your excellent post. Although you could have left off the last sentence? Just my humble opinion.

[julia23]

Many 'Hispanics' are Caucasian. So of course they look 'white'. Some of their genes come from Spain.

[sankofaman]

I think the poster is arguing for the elimination of the term "Hispanic" because it is confusing with regard to "racial" categories since it is a term that reflects a language grouping as opposed to "race". The poster MAY also be arguing from a more "purist" sense of history and culture with respect to identity since the term does not take into account the indigenous cultural makeup (i.e. Native American) who were colonized not only geographically but CULTURALLY by the Spaniards (White European).

[maiali]

Neither Sonia nor her mother, Celina, look white. Not to mention that there are many black American families with family members that look like Celina Sotomayor.

[Georgia1992]

I'm African-American and I have older twin cousins who are 1/2 Mexican and they both have the same complexion as Sotomayor.

[Sergio Bayona]

The word "Hispanic" in modern day USA doesn't only refer to people of Spanish heritage. It merely refer to language (Spanish) and culture (Latin American). You are right that it doesn't imply ethnic background and I agree that it is a pretty broad brush. But to say we have *nothing* in common isn't quite right either. Oh and most people do not consider "Hispanic" a racist word.

Under your personal definition "A racist term that refers exclusively to Spanish heritage and people." What's racist about that? By the way, I've never asked my Spanish friends (from Spain) if they consider themselves to be Hispanic but I seriously doubt it. That's because the term "Hispanic" was pretty much invented here in the U.S.

I'm okay with people refer to me as Hispanic. It's not my first choice of word but it doesn't offend me whatsoever. Once I get to know them, I explain to them where I'm from, my ethnic background, etc., and help them with any misconception they may have. You can do that too.

[Realtor n VA]

Carlos you sound very ignorant of your own peopple, for being "hispanic" "latino" whatever you want to consider yourself!


Signed,
A Proud Latin American Citizen!!!

[dillydawg]

I am soo happy for her, her family and our country that she has been nominated.

[mike63]

Who cares about her family and "life story"? Thats a sure sign they dont want too much attention to her legal career.

[HC4BO]

Stop projecting ...

If you feel unqualified enough to comprehend what is in her vast body of legal work do NOT assume others smarter than you can NOT view a set of pictures and then go on to savor her work ...

In plain language ....

You just got owned ...

[Merckx]

This is done for every Supreme Court nominee. Just because you are unaware of tradition doesn't make your assessment correct.

[Darwin48]

Good Grief.
If they didn't do something like this, you'd whine that we don't know anything about her.
Go Away, child.

[Eriq]

VERY well put, Darwin48!

[franksters]

Yes, you're right....let's compare Sonia Sotomayor's legal experience with that of Harriet Miers, one of Bush's picks!!!!!!

[Jaxy]

Wow, it must be incredibly painful to be you ... all twisted and sour and myopic. Ugh!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Wow....you can tell by her 8th grade graduation picture that she had big BIG goals in her head, even at such a young age. She looked beyond focused!

I hope she does well. I think everyone respects a woman who is as accomplished as she, however, it's even more impressive when you realize that she has accomplished so much from such humble beginnings.

I bet her mother is beyond proud of what she has helped her children accomplish.

[Stilts9]

She's looks very wonderful.

[Ohioan730]

Her life is an American Dream. I wish her the best.

[HelixScanr]

La Famila

[MsLiz]

The eleventh picture, at the Yankees game, reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld when Elaine was upset with her photo on her Christmas card.

[btrim]

Get yer red hots...pea­nuts....pe­anuts!

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

Hey Nip