My Grandfather’s Son by Justice Clarence Thomas- a review

It made me realise more wholly that the firmest ideological beliefs, in Thomas’ case austere conservatism, are formed most definitively in the realisations we gain from lived experiences.

Justice Clarence Thomas is not what media talking heads would call a “rockstar” of the Supreme Court, deliberately keeping out of the media spotlight. This is in contrast to his liberal colleagues, who are all too happy to appear on outlets that they are clearly in the good graces of. This has led the story of Clarence Thomas to go untold and unrealised- though this book changes that.

My Grandfather’s Son is a moving read that did bring me close to tears many times. It is simply his life story that goes through the deep poverty of his childhood, coupled with the theme of race that runs throughout each page.

Most striking to me was his resistance to his father’s, or rather his grandfather’s (as he saw his grandfather as his true father) insistence that hard work and grit alone can pull one out of the grip of adversity.

Thomas had in the past resisted this wholeheartedly, being dragged into ideological groups that fed themselves off of a victim narrative. His heart-wrenching and difficult life described in this volume, with all the ups and downs that come with it, eventually led him to realise that the power to transform himself and those around him could be found in discipline and sacrifice.

It made me realise more wholly that the firmest ideological beliefs, in Thomas’ case austere conservatism, are formed most definitively in the realisations we gain from lived experiences.

After this, I have a newfound respect for a judge who gives true meaning to the word “been there and got the T-shirt”- or in his case the robe. I highly recommend this book.