ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, CLARENCE THOMAS – A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES}
I celebrate ACHIEVEMENT EVERY DAY! WEDNESDAY’S “A Rainbow of Role Models” Series demonstrates role models come in ALL races, genders, ages, and titles. “There is dignity, in achievement and success—in becoming, a great factor in civilization.” Carter G. Woodson.
I hope you will share these short articles; perhaps a few people will be curious to learn more.
Disclaimer: Good Day, Readers. WealthBuildingPowers blog is a financial literacy/competency blog and does not provide specific investment recommendations.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE – CLARENCE THOMAS – A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES}
In 1948, {birth year of Clarence Thomas} I would have wagered {on a gambling app had any been available, and I was born) that the prospect of a poor, southern black child becoming an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court was ZERO. Judge Thomas utilized education and hard work to beat those odds.
I could have got a million-to-one odds on that bet!
THE GIANT ELEPHANT/HILL IN THE ROOM!
For some, Clarence Thomas may be the most controversial individual I have included in my RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS SERIES. Carter G. Woodson stated: “There is dignity, in achievement and success—in becoming, a great factor in civilization.” I neither 100% agree with my wife nor my posted role models. I admire selected role models’ hard work, dedication and achievements!
I visited the D.C. National Museum of African American History and Culture. I saw some of our nation’s African American history, including the sin of slavery and Jim Crow, the rise of a global hero, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and the election of the first black President. The museum extensively covered achievements in sports and entertainment. One man was notably missing, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. I thought it a big deal that a second African American made it to our nation’s highest Court. Yet, the only mention of Thomas was a byline in singing the praise of Anita Hill.
In 1991, Ms. Hill accused Supreme Court Nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. It was a model case of She Said Versus He Said, but one YUGEEE difference, this was being debated not in a court of law but by the U.S. Senate and was shown by every network. After work, I and millions more watched the highlight reels of the day’s testimony and drama. Most days, I had “reasonable” doubts about both parties’ testimony. One or both were lying. “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”!
As the Republicans controlled the Senate, the nomination was confirmed down party lines.
SOCRATES, A WISE MAN
Having a reputation for wisdom makes Socrates the exact opposite of today’s politicians.
“One day, someone came to find the great philosopher and said to him:
– Do you know what I just heard about your friend?
– A moment, replied Socrates. Before you tell me, I would like to test the three sieves.
The three sieves?
– Yes, continued Socrates. Before telling anything about the others, it’s good to take the time to filter what you mean. I call it the test of the three sieves.
The first sieve is the TRUTH. Have you checked if what you’re going to tell me is true?
– No, I just heard it.
– Very good! So, you don’t know if it’s true.
We continue with the second sieve, that of KINDNESS. What you want to tell me about my friend, is it good?
– Oh, no! On the contrary.
– So, questioned Socrates, you want to tell me bad things about him, and you’re not even sure they’re true?
Maybe you can still pass the test of the third sieve, that of UTILITY. Is it useful that I know what you’re going to tell me about this friend?
– No, not really.
So, concluded Socrates, what you were going to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful. Why, then, did you want to tell me this?“
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THOMAS WIKIPEDIA SUMMARY
Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an American jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to succeed Thurgood Marshall and has served since 1991. After Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court and the longest serving member since Anthony Kennedy‘s retirement in 2018.
Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia. After his father abandoned the family, he was raised by his grandfather in a poor Gullah community in Savannah. Growing up as a devout Catholic, Thomas originally intended to be a priest in the Catholic Church but was frustrated over the church’s insufficient attempts to combat racism. He abandoned his aspiration of becoming a clergyman to attend the College of the Holy Cross and, later, Yale Law School, where he was influenced by a number of conservative authors, notably Thomas Sowell, who dramatically shifted his worldview from progressive to conservative. Upon graduating, he was appointed as an assistant attorney general in Missouri and later entered private practice there. He became a legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth in 1979, and was made Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education in 1981. President Ronald Reagan appointed Thomas as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the next year.
President George H. W. Bush nominated Thomas to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1990. He served in that role for 19 months before Marshall’s seat on the Supreme Court became vacant. Thomas’s confirmation hearings were bitter and intensely fought, centering on an accusation that he had sexually harassed Anita Hill, a subordinate at the Department of Education and the EEOC. Hill alleged that Thomas made multiple sexual and romantic overtures to her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. Thomas and his supporters denied the allegation, asserting that Hill and her political supporters had fabricated the accusation to prevent the appointment of a black conservative to the Court. The Senate confirmed Thomas by a vote of 52–48/
Since the death of Antonin Scalia, Thomas has been the Court’s foremost originalist and is famous for being silent during oral arguments. He is widely considered the Court’s most conservative member. Wikipedia
WHY DOES JUSTICE THOMAS SELDOM ASK QUESTIONS? THE MAJORITY OF JUSTICES CAN ONLY BE SILENCED WITH DUCT TAPE!
Why did Clarence Thomas go a decade without asking a question at oral arguments? Why is he one of the Supreme Court’s most vocal justices now? This video explores the purpose of justices asking questions and what changed for Justice Thomas. https://bloomberg.com
https://flipboard.com/video/bloomberg/98705b2609A
WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU WANT TO READ NEXT? WHAT QUESTIONS CAN I ANSWER? UNTIL NEXT TIME!
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St Jude Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/
Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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Wilson’s No-Kill Animal Shelter: https://wcnkas.org
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ABOUT ME
I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger with an N.C. State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
DISCLAIMER
I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, and real estate and am happy to share my finance and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation. As an investor, you must establish your risk/loss tolerance. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss.
Please seek your licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors for individual financial advice.
I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.
