Corey Robin, a political science professor and author of "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas," delves into the intricate ideological journey of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He explores how Thomas's hard-right views emerged from the failures of 1960s social movements and evolved into a mainstream conservative philosophy. Robin discusses Thomas's pessimism about racial progress, the complexities of his legacy on issues like capital punishment and abortion rights, and his influential judicial philosophy amidst the shifting landscape of American conservatism.
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Early Activism
As a college student, Clarence Thomas was notably politically active, even among his peers.
He co-founded the Black Student Union and was known for his strong stance on Black separatism.
insights INSIGHT
Objection to Interracial Relationships
Clarence Thomas's objection to interracial relationships stemmed partly from Black nationalism and partly from a code of Black masculinity.
He believed that interracial relationships weakened the Black community.
insights INSIGHT
White Paternalism
Clarence Thomas strongly opposes white paternalism, viewing any help from white Americans as harmful.
He sees such help as preventing Black people from being authors of their own achievements.
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In this episode, which was originally published in August 2022, Sean Illing talks with Corey Robin, author ofa 2019 book about the life and thought of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Robin discusses how Thomas — whose concurring opinion in the case that overturned Roe v. Wade garnered recent attention — developed the ideological basis of his extremist judicial philosophy, how his views went from the hard-right fringe to more mainstream over the course of his 30 years on the Supreme Court, and how the failures of the 1960s movements shaped his fundamental pessimism about racial progress in America.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
