Biden Mispronounces Justice “Ketanji Brown Jackson” as “Kajan Katanji Drowned” — At Ebenezer Baptist Church MLK Day Speech

On 1/15/2023, President Biden delivered a speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. During the speech, Biden mispronounced Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s name. “Those are the words of Kajan Katanji Drowned Jackson, our Supreme Court Justice,” Biden said, referring to her quote: “It took just one generation from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.” Biden also told audiences he used to attend Black churches: “I may be a practicing Catholic, but I used to go to 730 Mass every morning in high school and then in college before I went to the Black Church. Not a joke, Andy knows this.” He spoke of being intimidated: “I’ve spoken before, parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but this is intimidating following.”

The Mispronunciation

Biden said:

“Kajan Katanji Drowned Jackson” — His pronunciation.

“Ketanji Brown Jackson” — Actual name.

Supreme Court Justice — He appointed.

Multiple syllables wrong — Throughout.

“Drowned” instead of “Brown” — Most striking.

The actual name:

Ketanji — Pronounced kuh-TAN-jee.

Brown — Standard.

Jackson — Standard.

Historic appointment — By Biden.

First Black woman — On Supreme Court.

The mispronunciation:

Politically awkward — For Biden.

About his own appointee — Notably.

On Black church platform — Unfortunate timing.

Multiple errors — Not single slip.

Public moment — Captured.

The Quote Context

Biden was quoting Jackson:

“It took just one generation” — From segregation.

“To the Supreme Court of the United States” — Her appointment.

Powerful historical statement — By Jackson.

At her own confirmation — Originally.

Civil rights significance — Major.

The quote:

Genuinely significant — Historically.

About Jackson’s family — Personal.

Civil rights triumph — Embodied.

Powerful framing — For MLK Day.

Context appropriate — For Black church speech.

But:

Mispronunciation — Undermined moment.

Took attention — From substance.

Generated coverage — Of error rather than message.

Political damage — Real.

Age concerns reinforced — Implicitly.

”I Used to Go to Black Church”

Biden’s claim:

Catholic practicing — Currently.

730 Mass — Daily Catholic Mass.

High school and college — Time period.

“Then I went to the Black Church” — After Mass.

“Not a joke” — Emphatic.

“Andy knows this” — Witness reference.

The claim:

Politically positioned — For Black audience.

Personal credibility — Sought.

“Not a joke” — Defensive.

Personal history claim — Specific.

Audience appropriate — Subject matter.

The “Andy” Reference

Biden referenced Andy:

Likely Andrew Young — Former Atlanta mayor.

Civil rights leader — Notable.

Ebenezer connection — Possible.

Personal witness — Cited.

Credibility appeal — Made.

The reference:

Personal authority — Invoked.

Witness to claim — Cited.

Standard speech technique — For credibility.

Audience-appropriate — Reference.

Strategic positioning — For Black audience.

”Two Political Heroes”

Biden referenced his heroes:

Bobby Kennedy — RFK.

Dr. King — At desk.

Bust of MLK — In Oval Office.

Civil rights heroes — Both.

Personal narrative — Built.

The political heroes:

Bobby Kennedy — Liberal icon.

MLK — Civil rights icon.

Both assassinated — 1968.

Inspirational figures — For Biden.

Standard Democratic — Heroes.

The narrative:

Personal connection — To civil rights movement.

Long political history — Emphasized.

Liberal credentials — Established.

Standard biography — For Biden.

Political positioning — For Black audience.

”22-Year-Old Kid in the East Side”

Biden’s biography claim:

22-year-old start — In civil rights.

East Side reference — Geographic.

Civil Rights Movement — Participation claimed.

Personal involvement — Asserted.

Senate election at 29 — True.

The civil rights claim:

Has been disputed — Historically.

Biden’s actual role — Limited.

Walked out of segregated — Restaurant once.

Various claims — Over years.

Often exaggerated — By Biden.

The narrative:

Personal civil rights credentials — Sought.

Political positioning — For Black audience.

Standard Biden biography — Used.

Historical accuracy — Sometimes questionable.

Strategic communication — At play.

”Bobby” Personal

Biden contrasted:

John Kennedy — Admired but distant.

Bobby Kennedy — Could picture at table.

Personal connection — Claimed.

Kitchen table imagery — Used.

Standard Biden — Folksy framing.

The contrast:

JFK distant figure — Despite admiration.

RFK relatable — Personal.

Standard distinction — Among Kennedys.

Biden’s personal style — Reflected.

Kennedy mythology — Engaged.

”Just to the Left Is the Bust of Dr. King”

Biden referenced his desk:

Dr. King bust — In Oval Office.

To the left — Of his desk.

Visible reminder — Daily.

Historical connection — Asserted.

Standard symbolic — Reference.

The bust:

Standard Oval Office — Decoration.

Various presidents — Have had it.

MLK significance — Universal.

Political symbolism — Real.

Personal claim — Of inspiration.

”Come On, in the Fire Place!”

Audience interjection:

“In the fire place” — Audience comment.

Possibly humorous — Reference.

Maybe correction — About location.

Audience engagement — Active.

Black church atmosphere — Lively.

The interjection:

Showed audience engagement — Active.

Maybe joking — About bust location.

Standard church dynamic — Call-response.

Biden navigated — Continuing speech.

Real moment — In setting.

”Y’all Are Incredible”

Biden’s audience compliment:

“Y’all” — Southern address.

“Incredible” — Praise.

Audience appreciation — Expressed.

Standard speech technique — For warming.

Personal connection — Sought.

The “y’all”:

Southern dialectic — Adopted.

Audience-appropriate — Use.

Standard political — Adaptation.

Personal connection — Through dialect.

Code-switching — Mild form.

”Intimidating Following”

Biden’s humility expression:

Speaking before world leaders — Cited.

Parliaments, kings, queens — Listed.

“Intimidating following” — Audience.

At Ebenezer — Specifically.

Humility framing — For audience.

The humility:

Ebenezer Baptist — Historic church.

MLK home church — Originally.

Audience reverence — Implied.

Standard humility — At religious settings.

Strategic communication — Works for connection.

”I Have a Bad Reputation for Speaking Too Long”

Biden self-aware joke:

Reputation noted — For length.

Self-deprecating — Humor.

Audience knowledge — Implied.

Standard joke — For Biden.

Connection through humor — Sought.

The joke:

Worked typically — For audiences.

Self-aware — About verbal patterns.

Standard Biden — Humor.

Audience appreciated — Usually.

Personal connection — Through self-awareness.

”What’s Your Name, Honey?”

Personal moment:

To young person — Apparently.

“Honey” — Term of endearment.

Personal connection — Direct.

Standard Biden — Style.

Audience interaction — Unusual.

The moment:

Personal touch — Mid-speech.

Audience member specifically — Acknowledged.

Standard Biden — Personalization.

Could seem patronizing — To some.

Or warm — To others.

”First Sitting President”

Biden noted historical first:

First sitting president — At Ebenezer.

Sunday Service — Specifically.

136 years — Church history.

Historical significance — Highlighted.

Standard president — Self-positioning.

The claim:

Factually accurate — As far as known.

Historical significance — Real.

Political positioning — As historic.

Standard framing — For appearances.

Legitimate observation — Generally.

”I Know I Look Like It”

Biden joke about age:

Self-deprecating — About age.

“Look like” 136 years — Joke.

Standard humor — About appearance.

Audience laughter — Likely.

Connection through — Self-awareness.

The joke:

Self-aware about age — Notably.

Common Biden technique — Use.

Audience-appropriate — Generally.

Worked usually — For warming.

Standard political — Humor.

The Reporter’s Background Question

The reporter asked:

About 2020 strategy — Black church visits.

16th Street church — Reference.

Similar outreach — For 2024.

Campaign strategy — Question.

Substantive inquiry — About politics.

The 2020 context:

South Carolina primary — Crucial.

Black voter outreach — Strategy.

Church visits — Standard.

Biden survived — Through Black voters.

2024 implications — Relevant.

”Could Be a Great Start”

The administration response:

“Could be a great start” — For 2024.

Of similar outreach — Confirmed indirectly.

Strategic positioning — Acknowledged.

Black voter outreach — Important.

2024 strategy — Indicated.

The response:

Acknowledged 2024 dimension — Implicitly.

Strategic outreach confirmed — Beginning.

Black voter focus — For campaign.

Political positioning — Standard.

Coalition building — Strategy.

The Speech Writing Process

The reporter asked about:

Speech writing process — Standard.

Time spent — On preparation.

Team involvement — Of speechwriters.

Biden input — Personal.

Standard process — Disclosed.

The response:

“Couple of weeks” — Timeframe.

Team works — On drafts.

Biden input — Throughout.

Personal pen — Final touches.

Standard process — Described.

”Never Finished”

Standard speech-writing observation:

Speeches always evolving — Until delivered.

“Never finished” — Until spoken.

Standard process — Acknowledgment.

Working until last moment — Common.

Standard speechwriting — Reality.

The observation:

Standard understanding — Of process.

Acknowledged reality — Of speech work.

Professional comment — Standard.

No specific revelation — Substantial.

Process color — Provided.

The MLK Day Context

MLK Day weekend:

Civil rights anniversary — Annual.

Black community focus — Standard.

Political appearances — Routine.

Ebenezer specifically — MLK’s church.

Historic location — For speech.

The context:

Politically significant — For Biden.

Black voter outreach — Strategic.

Civil rights connection — Claimed.

Personal narrative — Engaged.

Standard political — Use of MLK Day.

The Ebenezer Significance

Ebenezer Baptist Church:

MLK preached here — Historic.

Civil rights movement — Cradle.

Atlanta location — Strategic.

Sunday services — Continuing.

Historic and current — Relevance.

The location:

Powerful symbolism — For civil rights.

MLK family connection — Direct.

Black community center — Active.

Political pilgrimage site — For Democrats.

Strategic appearance — Standard.

The Biden 2020 Black Voter Context

2020 campaign context:

South Carolina primary — Crucial victory.

Black voter support — Decisive.

James Clyburn endorsement — Key moment.

Church visits — Standard tactic.

Biden survival — Through Black voters.

For 2024:

Similar coalition — Needed.

Black voter outreach — Continuing.

Church appearances — Strategic.

Personal narrative — Used.

Coalition building — Essential.

The Mispronunciation’s Significance

The “Kajan Katanji Drowned” mispronunciation:

About own appointee — Notably.

At Black church — Unfortunate setting.

On MLK Day weekend — Symbolic timing.

Multiple errors — Not single.

Generated coverage — Substantial.

The significance:

Reinforced age concerns — Inevitably.

Undermined message — About civil rights triumph.

Political damage — Real.

Comedy material — For opponents.

Standard verbal Biden — Issue.

The Verbal Pattern

Biden verbal issues:

Mispronunciations — Frequent.

Wrong names — Common.

Confused references — Often.

Garbled phrases — Sometimes.

Standard pattern — By 2023.

The pattern:

Cumulative effect — On perception.

Age concerns — Reinforced.

Political damage — Sustained.

Comedy material — Generated.

Standard observation — By 2023.

The Civil Rights Credibility

Biden’s civil rights claims:

Personal involvement — Asserted.

At 22 years old — Claimed.

East Side reference — Geographic.

Movement participation — Stated.

Political hero references — Made.

The claims:

Sometimes exaggerated — Historically.

Personal narrative — Strategic.

Audience-appropriate — For Black church.

Long-disputed — In some details.

Standard biographical — Material for Biden.

The Black Church Tradition

Biden’s claim:

Used to attend — Black churches.

730 Mass first — Catholic.

“Then” Black Church — Sequential.

Personal experience — Claimed.

“Not a joke” — Defensive.

The claim:

Sometimes scrutinized — By observers.

Personal narrative — Strategic.

Audience appropriate — For Black church speech.

Standard Biden biography — Used.

Defensive framing — “Not a joke.”

The “Not a Joke” Pattern

Biden often says:

“Not a joke” — Frequently.

To assert truth — Of statement.

About claims — Often disputed.

Verbal tic — Recognized.

Standard Biden — Phrasing.

The pattern:

Suggests defensive — About claims.

Used when — Audience might doubt.

Standard Biden — Verbal tic.

Sometimes works — Politically.

Sometimes backfires — Substantively.

The Speech Reception

The speech generally:

Well-received — At Ebenezer.

Positive media coverage — Mostly.

Some focus on mispronunciation — Inevitably.

Political messaging — Achieved.

Standard appearance — Successful.

But:

Mispronunciation amplified — In some media.

Comedy material generated — For opponents.

Age concerns reinforced — For some.

Political mixed — Reception.

Standard Biden — Outcomes.

The 2024 Campaign Implications

The Ebenezer speech:

Beginning of outreach — Implicitly.

For 2024 strategy — Acknowledged.

Black voter focus — Important.

Civil rights framing — Used.

Standard coalition building — Begun.

For 2024:

Black voter support — Essential.

Church visits — Continuing.

Civil rights themes — Standard.

Personal narrative — Used.

Coalition strategy — Maintained.

The Personal Connection Strategy

Biden’s strategy:

Personal narrative — Engaged.

“Black Church” history — Claimed.

“Y’all” address — Used.

Self-deprecating humor — Deployed.

Civil rights heroes — Referenced.

The strategy:

Standard Biden — Approach.

Audience-appropriate — For Black church.

Personal connection — Sought.

Coalition building — Goal.

Long-term political — Strategy.

Key Takeaways

• President Biden delivered an MLK Day weekend speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on January 15, 2023.
• He mispronounced Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s name as “Kajan Katanji Drowned Jackson.”
• Biden quoted Jackson: “It took just one generation from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
• He claimed personal Black church history: “I used to go to 730 Mass every morning in high school and then in college before I went to the Black Church.”
• Biden referenced political heroes: Bobby Kennedy and MLK, with bust in Oval Office.
• He said the speech could be “a great start” of 2024 outreach to Black voters.
• The speech writing process was “couple of weeks” with team and Biden input.
• The mispronunciation generated coverage that reinforced age concerns going into 2024.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• Those are the words of Kajan Katanji Drowned Jackson, our Supreme Court Justice.
• I may be a practicing Catholic, but I used to go to 730 Mass every morning in high school and then in college before I went to the Black Church.
• I have two political heroes… Bobby Kennedy, I admired John Kennedy, but I could never picture him at my kitchen table.
• I’ve spoken before, parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but this is intimidating following.
• I stand here humbled, being the first sitting president of the United States, to have an opportunity to speak at Ebenezer Sunday Service.
• We’ve been working on it for a couple of weeks. There’s a team, and of course with the president’s input.

Full transcript: 564 words transcribed via Whisper AI.