Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas discussed a promise he made after the sudden deaths of his grandparents in 1983 during a conversation with Hoover Institution fellow Peter Robinson. Thomas stated, "When both my grandparents died suddenly... the decision I made was to live the rest of my life as a memorial to theirs." He paused to gather his composure during the discussion.
Thomas, who was raised by his maternal grandparents in segregated Savannah, Georgia, shared insights about their influence on his life. He noted that neither grandparent had a high school education, with his grandfather having only nine months of formal education and his grandmother completing the sixth grade. Thomas described his grandfather as a "great man" who instilled values of self-reliance and hard work.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Thomas recalled his grandfather's saying, "Old man can't is dead. I helped bury him," emphasizing the importance of perseverance. He also expressed that rediscovering economist Thomas Sowell's work allowed him to think differently from other Black leaders, recognizing parallels between Sowell's messages and the teachings of his grandparents and the Catholic nuns who educated him.