I have had a few regrets in life. One of them was supporting Clarence Thomas during his bitter confirmation hearings back in the early nineties. I was still in Law School then, and although I knew his views on things like abortion was right of center, and he was selected by a republican president, I still thought it was nice that a second person of color was about to join the supremes.
I even believed Thomas and his "high- tech lynching" bullshit line. A line that he used to hoodwink us black folks into supporting him, and scaring the rest of the country away from talking about his lack of qualifications and intellect.
For the record, I believe Anita Hill now. I can just see him (Thomas) with that Coke can talking about pubic hair and making pornographic references. It's a fact that three of her colleagues backed her story in sworn depositions, and from where I sit, three is a sufficient crowd when it comes to this issue. Thomas says it was powerful interests groups that were out to stop him at all costs. And, according to him, they used the "age old blunt instrument of accusing a black man of sexual misconduct" to try and bring him down. Yeah right. Amazing how Clarence played the race card when it suited him, but now that he has what he wants, the race card is no longer relevant in A-merry-ca.
I am writing all this about my favorite uncle tonight, because his new book, "My Grandfather's Son", hits the book shelves tomorrow. (I hope Chris has a review because I won't be buying it) In it, he will talk about his childhood living in poverty with his mother and brother in a one bedroom apartment with no running water. And he will talk about his transformation from a George McGovern supporter and protesting college student, to a right wing Reagan appointee and Bush loving lap dog for the right.
So Anita, sorry it took so long, but I owe you an apology. Wherever you are today, I want to say sorry for not believing you about what a creep this guy is. You were right about Clarence Thomas, and our country should have believed you and not him. If we had, I honestly believe that we would have all been better off today.
My favorite uncle will get a million dollar signing bonus for his book. Wouldn't it be nice if he took his million dollars, his fat government pension, and just retired to Idaho or Montana some damn place? I am sure he would get lots of love in both of those places. But you and I know that won't happen. The republicans still have too much for him to do, there is still work to be done around the house, and no one is better at working in the house than Clarence.
