Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas became emotional during an on-stage conversation at the Hoover Institution when he recalled the promise he made after both his grandparents died suddenly in 1983.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of Thomas point to what they see as a tension between his personal story and his judicial philosophy. Raised by grandparents who faced systemic barriers under Jim Crow segregation, some progressive commentators argue that his jurisprudence often fails to acknowledge how structural racism shaped economic outcomes for Black Americans. His emphasis on self-reliance, while admirable personally, may not account for the limited opportunities available to many families during segregation.
Others note that Thomas's embrace of economist Thomas Sowell and similar thinkers represents a departure from mainstream civil rights advocacy that acknowledges both individual agency and the need for systemic change. The left-leaning perspective often asks whether personal success stories can serve as a roadmap when the starting conditions remain unequal.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters view Thomas's story as a powerful validation of conservative principles about education, family structure, and self-reliance. His grandfather, Myers Anderson, had no formal education yet instilled in Thomas the belief that attitude and determination matter more than circumstances. Conservative commentators praise how Thomas credits his grandparents' values—passed down despite their limited schooling—for shaping his worldview.
The right also highlights Thomas's connection to Sowell as evidence of intellectual honesty. Rather than following mainstream Black leadership, Thomas found validation for lessons learned at home: that self-reliance and self-discipline offer a path forward. Supporters see his judicial philosophy as an extension of the same values his grandparents modeled.
"Old man can't is dead. I helped bury him" — Thomas's grandfather's favorite saying — has become a touchstone for those who argue that complaining about circumstances accomplishes nothing.
What the Numbers Show
Thomas was born in 1948 and raised by his maternal grandparents, Myers and Christine Anderson, in segregated Savannah, Georgia. His father left the family when Thomas was 7 years old.
Neither grandparent attended high school. Myers Anderson received only nine months of formal education, while Christine Anderson completed through the sixth grade.
Thomas attended the College of the Holy Cross on full scholarship before transferring to Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 1974.
President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court in 1991, and he has served for over three decades.
"Even though my grandfather only had nine months of education, the crown jewel was education," Thomas said during the conversation with Hoover Institution fellow Peter Robinson.
The Bottom Line
Thomas's emotional reflection offers insight into the personal values underlying his public career. His decision to honor his grandparents' memory through how he lives his life has been a defining theme in his journey from segregated Savannah to the Supreme Court. Whether one views his philosophy as confirmation of self-reliance's power or questions its applicability to broader systemic challenges, the moment underscores the profound influence of family and early mentorship on his worldview.