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African-American press coverage of Clarence Thomas nomination
Newspaper Research Journal, Fall 1994 by Fearn-Banks, Kathleen
The Thomas nomination created controversy nationally, and particularly divided the African-American community. The Atlanta Constitution, prior to the Anita Hill conflict, cited its poll (with WSB-TV Atlanta) that 49 percent of blacks favored the confirmation and 26 percent were opposed. Fifty-four percent of whites favored Thomas, showing he appealed more to whites than blacks, even in the South where he had strong support among both blacks and whites.(23) The divisions within the black community stemmed primarily from Thomas' opposition to affirmative action. A New York Times poll, published before the confirmation and before the Anita Hill conflict, revealed that 83 percent of blacks agreed that someone who had benefited from affirmative action had an obligation to support such programs so others might benefit. Seventy percent of whites polled had the same attitude. Eighteen percent of the blacks and six percent of the whites agreed that by being conservative, Thomas was turning his back on his own people."
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African Americans divided along class lines in their views on Thomas. A USA Today poll published immediately after the Thomas nomination pointed at a sharp division among blacks, along economic and educational lines, over Thomas as a role model and his political views. Fifty-four percent approved of Thomas, while 17 percent disapproved. Broken down into financial categories, 67 percent from households with incomes over $50,000 said Thomas did not represent the views of most blacks. Only 41 percent of households with incomes under $30,000 said he did not represent the views of most blacks. Forty percent of black college graduates said Thomas is out of touch and not a good role model. The percentage of high school graduates agreeing with these two statements was 19 percent. Forty-nine percent of blacks earning over $50,000 and 47 percent of college graduates disagreed with Thomas's philosophy of self-help.(25)
It is important to note here that black people can approve of the Thomas appointment and still feel he does not reflect the views of most blacks, is out of touch, is not a good role model, and has a negative view of sell-help for African-Americans. This is due to the age-old black understanding that in a racially integrated setting, a black person supports or at least does not publicly oppose a black person whether he is right or wrong.
The Anita Hill charges against Thomas had no substantive impact on his support in the African-American community. In fact, according to a Los Angeles Times poll, black support for Thomas grew after the Thomas-Hill conflict.(26)
In general, the argument over Thomas's nomination within the African-American community polarized into two areas. First, some argued that blacks should support Thomas because he is black. Others argued that his record--not his race--was crucial, and on those grounds that blacks should find him completely unacceptable.
RESULTS
Coverage of the Clarence Thomas issue in the African-American newspapers, between President Bush's nomination and the confirmation, was uncharacteristically schizophrenic. Following in the footsteps of Thurgood Marshall, a near demigod in the eyes of the African-American community, Thomas had a big "robe" to fill that was destined to be a difficult task for any mortal being, but he was obviously too much of a contrast to be embraced.
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