Claim: In a 1983 speech, Clarence Thomas said "God only knows where I would be" without affirmative action. The same unanimity of opinion does not exist for affirmative action. Thomas, in his speech, expressed the view that "too much posturing" had taken place over the debate about affirmative action, but he also affirmed that affirmative action programs had been "critical to minorities and women in this society." CriticismThat Thomas, who recently ruled against the use of racial quotas in college admissions, would have described affirmative action as "critical to minorities and women in this society" has been painted as an example of Thomas' hypocrisy on affirmative action. [...] "We did adopt an affirmative action program and it was pretty clearly stated," said Prof. Abraham S. Goldstein, who was dean of the Law School from 1970 to 1975.

Source: Washington Post July 05, 2023 21:10 UTC