The People's Sheriff
It was shocking, although not very surprising, to hear that the Smithsonian Institution left out Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from its newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture. As only one of two black men to ever occupy the esteemed position in the United States, the absence of Thomas’s story and contributions shows a blatant partisanship that doesn’t belong in an educational setting.
Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas responded to the initial complaints saying the museum “cannot tell ever story in our inaugural exhibitions.” The only “story” the Smithsonian was willing to say about Justice Thomas was relegated to a brief mention of the sexual harassment allegations made by Anita Hill during Thomas’s 1991 confirmation hearings. Add to that his conservative voting record and public opposition to affirmative action and it’s easy to see why the Smithsonian didn’t feel compelled to include his contributions to society.
Thankfully, Sen. Ted Cruz is spearheading a motion to urge the museum to “include an accurate legacy and biography” of a most worthy black figure. Cruz wrote a letter to the museum’s secretary, provost, and founding director asking them to reconsider:
Clarence Thomas [is] the second African-American justice to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as the longest serving African-American justice. As much as I am grateful for the museum and its efforts to preserve and promote the indispensable, yet oft-neglected, contributions of African Americans to the collective history of our nation, I believe the museum has made a mistake by omitting the enormous legacy and impact of Justice Thomas, as well as his compelling background.
Cruz went on to praise the justice’s legacy of adhering to the Constitution as a fixed set of ideas rather than viewing it as a “living” document like many of his colleagues do. He also noted that Thomas rose from “prejudice and poverty” as a young boy in Georgia “to the pinnacle of the legal profession.” And because of his reputation for being “the most jovial, down-to-earth, and gracious personalities to ever don the robe,” Cruz reminded the curators that “stories of his kindness, generosity, and humility abound.”
And yet, Thomas is only mentioned in passing. This also concerned Sen. Tim Scott from South Carolina who happens to be the only black Republican in the Senate. He sent a similar letter to the Smithsonian earlier this month.
Sen. Cruz, in his letter, clarified that he isn’t “petitioning for a partisan hagiography of Justice Thomas, nor am I asking that everything critical of him be excluded.”
“I am simply requesting that a fair and accurate portrayal of his powerful story be included, for the great benefit of millions of future museum-goers.”
That doesn’t sound like too much to ask. Bravo to Cruz and Scott for standing up for this great man and his inclusion in the annals of American history.
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