Clarence Thomas Is The Monster We Made
Clarence Thomas hates Black people. That is an easy case to make. After a couple cold beers he’ll probably tell you that himself. But assuming you never get that long awaited happy hour date with Clarence, just review his public performances over the years and the clearer that picture becomes. What also becomes clear, once we account for the broader context of his life, is that this hate started at home. Clarence hates Black people because Black people hated him first. We created a monster and now we have to deal with it. At least that’s how he sees it. And now, that monster is poised to corral all of the work Black people and our allies have done in the past, and all the hope we have for the future, and set it all on fire. Unless, of course, we can find a way to contain the blaze and keep it from spreading.
An Explanation Is Not An Excuse
Let me state this plainly: There is absolutely no excuse for the intentional harm that Clarence Thomas has done to African Americans. None. But there is most certainly an explanation for it. And with all due respect to every coach I had from age 9 to 19, explanations are not excuses. Explanations are the crucial first step on a journey of robust exploration and critical analysis. A journey that can yield a literal treasure trove of actionable intel. And our community needs all we can get.
