Corey Robin, a political science professor and author of 'The Enigma of Clarence Thomas,' delves into the complexities of the Supreme Court Justice's life and ideology. He discusses Thomas's shift from black nationalism to conservatism, revealing how historical movements shaped his views on race and progress. The conversation uncovers Thomas's judicial philosophy, his role in pivotal decisions, and the intersections of his personal beliefs with contemporary Republican ideology, providing a nuanced portrait of a controversial figure.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Accidental Thomas Scholar
Corey Robin initially declined to write about Clarence Thomas.
Researching Thomas, he uncovered an untold story of transformation from Black nationalist to conservative icon.
insights INSIGHT
Thomas's Black Nationalism
Clarence Thomas's Black nationalism centers on Black self-organization, separate from white America.
He believes this separation is permanent due to irreconcilable differences.
question_answer ANECDOTE
College Activism
In college, Clarence Thomas was a vocal Black nationalist, even among his peers.
He challenged interracial couples on campus and prioritized Black male honor.
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Herbert Aptheker's 'American Negro Slave Revolts' is a groundbreaking work that provides detailed accounts of approximately 250 slave revolts and conspiracies in the United States. The book challenges the myth of African American docility during slavery, highlighting various forms of resistance and rebellion. Aptheker's research spans from the early European settlements to the Civil War, offering insights into the complex dynamics of slave resistance and its impact on American society.
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In 'Invisible Man,' Ralph Ellison tells the story of a nameless black protagonist who navigates the surreal and often hostile world of 20th-century America. The novel begins with the narrator living in an underground room, reflecting on his life and the various ways he has experienced social invisibility. He recounts his journey from a small Southern town to Harlem, involving experiences with racism, a brutal 'battle royal,' and his involvement with the Brotherhood, a civil rights group. The narrative delves into themes of identity, power, and the struggle for self-definition in a society that refuses to see him. Through his experiences, the narrator grapples with the complexities of being a black man in America, ultimately leading to a profound exploration of invisibility and the search for one's true self[1][4][5].
Sean Illing talks with Corey Robin, author of a recent article — as well as a 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 thirty years on the Supreme Court, and how the failures of the 1960's movements shaped his fundamental pessimism about racial progress in America.
Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
