Affirmative Action -- A View: Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor
29:15 into video: Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor
Lawrence Tribe
Dante rarely gets into discussions about race, because it is almost always a shouting match with bs coming from all sides. How about an intelligent discussion on Affirmative Action, by discussing two very similar yet very different stories?
Why do Thomas and Sotomayor feel the ways they do? What do you think their stories say about them and ultimately us -- society? Were you in either;s shoes, how would you see the world?
Better yet, what does it say about the world's they inhabit? Who makes Thomas feel this way, his conservative friends and allies, or his more liberal and progressive opponents? Is it something in his background, his aspirations and self identity -- his ego?
What about Sotomayor? Why does she feel the way she does? She does seem at all defensive about it, at least to me she doesn't?
29:15 into video: Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor
Lawrence Tribe
The fact is the deep debate between Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor about affirmative action is incredibly informative -- They both recognize that they have been the beneficiaries of race sensitive decision making by universities and to some extent by the government.
They come out very differently as to what they think about that:
Thomas says "It made me feel inferior all my life. Everywhere I go people say 'He's an affirmative action baby. He's there only because he's black. I feel excluded."
Sotomayor says "I understand that, but I feel very differently. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today, but for the benefits of affirmative action. -- I don't want anyone else to be denied that opportunity. It doesn't undermine my sense of self, my ego is intact."
They come out very differently as to what they think about that:
Thomas says "It made me feel inferior all my life. Everywhere I go people say 'He's an affirmative action baby. He's there only because he's black. I feel excluded."
Sotomayor says "I understand that, but I feel very differently. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today, but for the benefits of affirmative action. -- I don't want anyone else to be denied that opportunity. It doesn't undermine my sense of self, my ego is intact."
Dante rarely gets into discussions about race, because it is almost always a shouting match with bs coming from all sides. How about an intelligent discussion on Affirmative Action, by discussing two very similar yet very different stories?
Why do Thomas and Sotomayor feel the ways they do? What do you think their stories say about them and ultimately us -- society? Were you in either;s shoes, how would you see the world?
Better yet, what does it say about the world's they inhabit? Who makes Thomas feel this way, his conservative friends and allies, or his more liberal and progressive opponents? Is it something in his background, his aspirations and self identity -- his ego?
What about Sotomayor? Why does she feel the way she does? She does seem at all defensive about it, at least to me she doesn't?