Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke movingly about his upbringing, the influence of Thomas Sowell on his thinking, and how lessons from his grandparents and educators shaped his view of self-reliance and character. He linked personal tragedy to a lifelong vow, described the discipline he learned growing up in segregated Savannah, and explained why Sowell’s work resonated with him. This piece presents his memories and reflections in a direct, grounded voice.
Clarence Thomas opened with a memory that still guides him. “When both my grandparents died suddenly in 1983, the decision I made was to live the rest of my life as a memorial to theirs,” he said, a line that set the tone for his talk about duty and legacy. The moment showed how personal history can define public life without fanfare or pretense.
Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents after his father left when he was seven, and he described those years in plain terms. “We actually lived — farmed on a part of that plantation, and we grew up every summer, we farmed on that plantation,” Thomas said, painting a picture of hard, steady work that left a durable mark on him. That background, he made clear, was not a story of victimhood but of steady effort.
His grandparents had very little formal schooling, yet they taught him what mattered most. “Even though my grandfather only had nine months of education, the crown jewel was education. My grandmother went to the sixth grade, for her the crown jewel,” Thomas said, showing how reverence for learning can outlive a lack of diplomas. Those practical lessons outweighed any talk about barriers.
Thomas described his grandfather as a model of action rather than complaint. “My grandfather, I remember him often saying, as a kid,” Thomas said, referring to his grandfather responding when Thomas complained about being unable to do something. “And his favorite saying was, ‘Old man can’t is dead. I helped bury him.'”
That creed of doing rather than excusing was central to Thomas’s message about how to meet difficulty. “And the old man can’t was buried many times in our house,” Thomas said, making clear that resilience was taught and reinforced every day. He credited those lessons with shaping a refusal to see obstacles as permanent excuses.
Rediscovering Thomas Sowell, who is also Black, gave Thomas intellectual permission to think differently from other Black leaders. “Well, I think it’s something that Professor Sowell has been trying to stress, that a lot of the groundwork to being able to do difficult things, to achieve, are attitudes. And he talks about other groups,” Thomas said, pointing to Sowell’s emphasis on character and habits.
Thomas explained why Sowell’s work felt familiar to him: it echoed the lessons from his family and the nuns who taught him. “Where did I first hear that? I heard it from my grandfather, the single greatest man I’ve ever known, my grandmother, a saintly woman, my nuns. Same thing. It’s the exact same thing,” Thomas continued, tying personal memory to intellectual influence. The result is a portrait of a jurist formed by tough love, quiet faith in learning, and a steady belief that attitudes matter most.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.