Today in Savannah history June 23, 1948 Clarence Thomas, who was the second African American Supreme Court Justice, was born in the community of Pin Point. Growing up Thomas lived mostly with his grandparents learning the values of entrepreneurship and moral fortitude. He remembers Savannah for what it was before social reformation and in his memoir states, “When I was a boy, Savannah was hell.” He was involved in the civil rights movement here in Savannah as a member of the NAACP and a friend of its leader, W. W. Law. He left the city in search of work serving a higher power but later transferred to Yale Law School when it was integrated. Under the administration of President Reagan he became the chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and through his actions generated a backlash amongst his supporters. Despite these negative opinions he was appointed to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the DC circuit under the administration of President George Bush Sr. in 1989. It was from that seat that he was chosen to take the seat of the first African American U. S. Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall when he retired. This created an even bigger backlash from civil rights groups and instigated a public scandal involving Anita Hill. He has kept his seat in the court however he is once again in the public eye. Many have stated that he should not judge the court trial concerning Monsanto because for a brief time he worked for the company as a lawyer. For further reading on judge Clarence Thomas check out his autobiography titled ‘My Grandfather’s Son’.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:00:56 +0000
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