Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas: Crash Course Black American History #46
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2022
- Today, Clint will teach you about the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas. During the screening process, Anita Hill came forward alleging that Thomas had sexually harassed her when the two of them worked together at the Department of Education. The public response to Hill's allegations was tense and split the Black American community along gendered lines. Thomas's nomination was ultimately confirmed by a margin of 52-48, and he became the second Black American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Clint's book, How the Word is Passed is available now! bookshop.org/books/how-the-wo...
Sources:
Harris, Duchess. Black Feminist Politics from Kennedy to Trump. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
Harris-Perry, Melissa V. Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011.
www.npr.org/2021/09/28/104091...
www.history.com/news/anita-hi...
www.npr.org/2018/09/23/650138...
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And now we reach parts of this history that I was "around" for - by which I mean I was old enough, and aware enough, to see what was happening...but not old enough or informed enough to UNDERSTAND. And whenever I asked...anybody, my mother, my grandparents, my teachers...they were simply silent. They wouldn't discuss the issue, they wouldn't explain, they wouldn't answer me at all. This video finally explains ALL of it in ways that make sense and don't fall into diatribes against one group or another. This is something that this series has excelled in from the very start - stating fact, acknowledging the difficulty of the topics discussed, and never flinching away from the bad parts.
The news coverage of this was something we were required to watch. I was in high school, in South Mississippi. Being made to watch - but never really understand - made me so uncomfortable, and I think maybe that started me questioning all the authority around me, trying to fathom why no one wanted to talk about Anita Hill. It's uncomfortable all over again, thinking that the likely reason was that they had nothing to say that would not have "sounded racist." That everyone I respected and looked up to...was, in fact, harboring some level of racist thinking towards her, towards Thomas, towards the whole situation. That is - heart breaking to understand. But along with so many other things I've learned since this Crash Course started, I've learned how to sit with that discomfort, that heartbreak.
And to think how much has changed in just those thirty years - and how far we still have to go, to bring our society, our country, to a place where ALL PEOPLE can expect - and get! - respect, equal treatment, and the full and unbroken protection of the law. A place we should have been a hundred years ago.
I have never agreed more on a statement from you tube. THANK YOU
SONJA AND CRASH COURSE
Absolutely excellent video. Bravo and it's important that history not be forgotten.
The "Behind the Bastards" podcast put together a 4 part series, probably about 6 hours of discussion about Clarence Thomas and it was very troubling.
I had hoped that you would also cover Anita's claims that Joe Biden mishandled the hearings
Clarence Thomas's invocation of lynching reminds me of the O.J. Simpson's sudden show of connection to the Black community during his murder trail. It seems like a self-serving way to mobilize sentiment in their favor even when their actions show an indifference at best to connecting with and supporting the Black community.
This channel deserves way more views. Keep up the great videos.🙏
It's only believe all women if they agree with your side.
Loving this series! Have you ever considered doing a series on African history? I know you've covered some of it in your world history videos, but there's still so much more to learn about Africa.
I appreciate every episode of this, and many other Crash Course series.
Thank you for covering Black History in a careful, insightful way.
How did I not know any of this? 🤦 Thank you for educating me.
Thomas Sowell next please ❤
love your videos guys we watch u in history class all the time can wait to watch you guys this school year!!!
The whole sexual assault allegation "problem" seems to be a common one with supreme court justices... 😬
So thankful this series exists - I just decided to look up Anita Hill after reading about some of the context the Riot Grrrl movement was borne from. V interesting to learn more about this case
Compelling, informative, not overtly biased, all while showing an obvious fidelity to the truth and integrity. I thank you for the work you're doing.
I just want to add Clarence Thomas's friends from his time at College of the Holy Cross said... quotes from Anita Hill's detailed testimony exactly mirrored the unique phrasing of things Thomas said on multiple occasions about pornography, women, and sex. His ex-girlfriend Lillian McEwen, a renowned lawyer and judge in DC for decades. She worked as a prosecutor, counsel on Capitol Hill, a criminal defense attorney, a law professor, and a United States Federal Administrative Law Judge... also corroborated Hill's details about Thomas's pornographic and sexual predilections.
Anita Hill knew she was going to have her reputation assailed, would receive threats, and that her future would be profoundly impacted by her testimony so it was a lose lose situation for her.
I have always believed Anita Hill. From what I've recently learned, there were other women who accused Thomas of sexual abuse but the committee wouldn't hear them. The committee made the wrong choice and should have never approved Thomas.
As we have seen with the Dobbs decision, Supreme Court Justice nominees will say just about anything to get onto the court.
This was so good!
I think its important to know that Anita Hill did not just come forward by herself. When the FBI was doing a background check on Clarence Thomas, they approached Anit Hill and she told them honestly what happened they then told her that she needed to appear in front of the Judiciary committee
i was in high school, and even at the time my friends and i thought it was a dirty move when Thomas made it out like he was being 'lynched.' if only we had known all that was happening, and all that would happen
Anita Hill was very brave for testifying back then and I applaud her. There were women before Anita Hill who claimed Clarence Thomas sexually assaulted them but the judge deemed the case unfounded??? This is so sad. Yet throughout it all he was still confirmed SMH
Honestly I think that Anita Hill is in the right. Clearance Thomas seems like the person who would passionately believe in what he believes in... until it negatively affects himself. In his opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson he wanted cases regarding to gay rights, contraceptives, same-sex marriage to be "'re-explored" but... You guessed it, he never included Loving v. Virginia, because he himself was married to a white women.
This episode was well crafted and thoughtful. Thank you!
Thank you!
Timely!
Thank you for the important lesson!
Thank you. I hope this video is shown in many classrooms.
What is an equitable workplace and why is it a thing to desire?
I only learned about the Anita Hill case in the last couple of years but I’m thankful for women like her who paved the way for more awareness & accountability regarding sexual assault. We owe so much to Black women.
Thank you ❤
Thanks for teaching up on this! I didn’t know, and I’m a history major.
He reminds of the young version of Morgan Freeman. Great story teller!
Anita Hill is a hero.
So refreshing to hear non biased account of such divisive issue. THANK YOU!
This is interesting.
It was a watershed moment
The Justice’s defense was textbook for an abuser, thank you Anita Hill for your continuing courage.
I guess one of his "different ideas" is "It's ok to harrass a woman".
Could I find the script for this great course anywhere?. I am a post graduate student and badly need it
Generally speaking I love this series, learned a lot about things not commonly taught in schools (especially in Europe ;)) My only concern is a bit too much focus on "great men/women" history, a deviation of CC's standard approach to history. Save a few examples it was also highly likely that external factors, big societal shifts and still existing systemic racism arguably affected black american history more than these individuals. Would love to see an episode on public housing policies, redlining, etc. that still have a profound effect on people
You the real MVP Clint or whomever is reading the comments!!!! I read a book titled "The Enigma Of Clarence Thomas" and made me change me view of him in a way, he's a complex and problematic figure in Black history but I think it's important that we are familiar with him. Love this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent deconstruction and framing of yet another complex issue
History has born out the truth on this one, not the least of which is that Americans are bound and determined to NOT learn from their mistakes. #BelieveWomen
Incredible video! Congrats to Clint Smith and the Crash Course team!
First, and very informative as always.
I was very young at the time, but a black woman making the allegation hardly seemed like a racially motivated act to me. And given that womens' rights are just as important as anyone else's, I thought it was important that we choose someone who actually respects them. All his hyperbole aside, there was no threat to his person involved and he should have been open to the investigation if he was innocent of the accusation.
Glad to learn about this.
Oh boy.
This series is so informative and I love learning about MY history!
The way that they vilified Anita was not right. I have always believed her.
Agreed. I will never respect or hold Clarence Thomas in any type of regard. How dare he use lynchings to defend his vile actions against Anita Hill.
If anyone was lynched in this process it was Anita Hill.
Why? Just wondering.
I feel similar about Tara Reede
Even if she was lying the response wasn't proportional to what she supposedly have done.
But these were allegations right?
I enjoyed the objective nature of this video. You reported on the facts and general timeline of these events, without taking a clear side. I would be curious, though, to know if the allegations or at least aspects of the allegations were ever proven to be correct or untrue. I believe this is an important aspect of this even being an event worth covering. I personally do not know, so I look to videos such as these to understand what is true or untrue about the allegations. Well done video nonetheless.
listen to the anita hill episode from the podcast "you're wrong about" it tells how horrible Anita was treated and how people got rich by running her name through the mud
HI crash course, the one thing that would be beneficial to know about is how the 2 major parties: Democrats & Republicans switched platforms twice in history. For example, the Republicans in 1865 we're more progressive but today are more conservative & vice verse for the Democrats. Can you tell us why?
John Greene discussed that in the U.S. history series.
Thank you for continuing to educating us.
(a white Euro dude)
Always thought that Hill told the truth.
Replacing THURGOOD MARSHALL with this clown is one of the lowest points of the Supreme Court
13k views and 3 comments. Why do people never comment on these episodes?
Fully triggered... Not even 2 minutes in. You're right, Clint, this is going to be rough.
Hill did not come forward. A democratic staffer asked her about it (she had only told a handful of friends and confidants and was a professor in Oklahoma) and the FBI was called for the interview.
I've been looking forward to this one. I did a report on Thomas in the 4th grade.
Replaced Marshall with Thomas what a travesty we haven't had a black Supreme Court Justice sense
Marshall
🔥
Anita is a hero. She took on the system with no support. I knew then that she was telling the truth and I am glad to see she has been vindicated with the #metoo movement. YOU’RE MY HERO ANITA!!!!.
Regardless of whether you believe Anita Hill, Clarence Thomas is a petty, risible man who should never have been a Supreme Court Justice.
Given his modern decisions (particularly regarding Roe v. Wade), I have to admit any good faith I attributed to him has largely faded away. Her story is hard to dismiss at any point, and I’m grateful for her work in the face of such nasty opposition. I believe her.
How many years did she work for him?
I never liked Clearance Thomas but now that I know of this history, I stand in my decision. At the hands of black man, a black woman was hurt. Hil was and still is treated badly for speaking her truth.
I still believe Anita. I get mad every time I see Thomas. He and his traitor wife.
True hero who fought against all white male Republicans in Congress
Funny having Clarence Thomas goofy self on here. Fantastic video as usual.
The video doesn’t really get into whether or not the allegations had a lot of evidential backing. Hmmm.
Because that isn't its purpose. This series is to look at flashpoints in history and provide an overview. And looking back at it, he covered the main points that make it historical, mainly that it opened up talking about sexual harassment in the workplace. And the way it opened up a conversation in the black community about the way black women are treated when harassed by black men.
Anita Hill 🤍🔥 Powerful woman 🦾
I love that this episode included 2 African American figures. The dichotomy proves that your commitment to equality, justice, and social activism doesn’t have anything to do with the color of your skin. Many still find ways to stand in their own way, or completely turn their backs on those within their own community.
True heroes are often the most overshadowed. We remember MLK as a Civil Rights activist, but we don’t always discuss his views on social issues like Unions, financial inequalities, poverty... Many on the Right called him a Communist then. I can only imagine what people called Anita Hill for speaking up against sexual assault.
Considering his politics against women I am more Incline to belive in Anita than Thomas. In light of recent rulings to restrict womens rights I consider him a force for evil.
Forever shame on clinton & bush for defending clarence
He was as guilty as sin
Maybe I’d be less cynical if this wasn’t a pattern
Two points:
1. Great job stating the facts alone, while resisting the urge to take sides on a still contentious issue.
2. I am concerned with the labelling of all issues involving Black Americans as "Black American History", while the rest are under "American History." It calls back to the idea of labelling water fountains and public restrooms. Black American History _is_ American History. I believe it is unwise, as well-intentioned as it may be, to segregate it. from the rest.
They answer this question in episode 0, the preview of what this series is about.
After watching this video and realizing what he and others did in overturning roe v. wade makes me dislike Clarence Thomas even more
hey
Way to be political.
who knows what did or didn't happen
The wife of Thomas supported the failed Jan 6 insurrection. They’ve both led a weird life.
I'm going to side with the group that says he used it in a very disrespectful way considering that he is married literally to a white supremacist.
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As a conservative white guy in South Minneapolis that is a hard tooth swallow Clarence Thomas shouldn't be in if he's a womanizer but at the same time I need to heal should have snitched on right away maybe it'll be in his memoir if he's decent human
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Comment.
The person you should REALLY be concerned about is Ginni Thomas!
This is the guy who vowed 'to make democrats lives misirable for 42 years' and who lied through his teeth to get the bench concerning upholding roe v wade.
His wife is one of the instigators and collaborators in the Jan 6th inssurection attempt and used her connection to him as attempt to add legitimacy when calling for aid to the insurrectionists.
This man needs to be disbarred, removed from the bench, and investigated to see if he had any personal involvement in his wife's aid to the riotors.
Clarence Thomas.... Loyal to his wife when she undermines democracy but not otherwise
This case is why Clarence Thomas should have never been a justice
Clarence Thomas: worlds Tomest of uncles
Uncle Clarence
The fact is, no one but Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill knows for sure what happened. You don’t have to choose one side. You can think that Hill seems to be telling the truth, while also thinking that one person’s word should not be enough to condemn someone without significant evidence.
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