Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Clarence Thomas Claims He Doesn't 'Have A Clue' What 'Diversity' Means During Affirmative Action Oral Arguments

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Alex Wong/Getty Images

The conservative Supreme Court justice questioned race-conscious college admissions at the University of North Carolina.

Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas raised eyebrows after he questioned the meaning of "diversity" during Supreme Court arguments regarding a challenge against the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill race-conscious admissions process.

Thomas—who is widely regarded as the Court's most conservative member—pressed North Carolina's solicitor general Ryan Park, who represented the university, for a more specific definition of the term.


You can hear what Thomas said in the video below.

Thomas said:

"I've heard the word diversity quite a few times and I don't have a clue what it means. It seems to mean everything for everyone."
"I'd like you to give us a specific definition of diversity in the context of the University of North Carolina, and I'd also like you to give us a clear idea of exactly what the educational benefits of diversity at the University of North Carolina would be."

Park responded that the university's definition of diversity aligns with the Supreme Court's definition in prior cases, which is "a broadly diverse set of criteria that extends to all different backgrounds and perspectives, and not solely limited to race."

He said that the university values "diversity of all different kinds and all the ways that people differ in our society," adding that the "educational benefits" are obvious because diversity leads to a "deeper and richer learning environment," a "more creative thinking and exchange of ideas," and "reduced bias" on college campuses.

Thomas pushed back, saying that he "didn't go to racially diverse schools, but there were educational benefits," adding:

"I'd like you to tell me expressly when a parent sends a kid to college, they don't necessarily send them there to have fun or feel good or anything like that."
"They send them there to learn physics or chemistry or whatever they're studying."

Thomas later dismissed Park's reiteration of the university's views of the benefits of a racially diverse student body, saying that he doesn't "put much stock in that, because I’ve heard similar arguments for segregation.”

Thomas is only the second Black person to serve on the Court after the late Thurgood Marshall.

It is not likely he would have made it as far as he has without the aid of diversity and inclusion efforts—he went to Yale University under an affirmative action program for example—given the very long and sordid history of racial exclusion in the United States.

Many have criticized him as a result and suggested he is operating in bad faith.


The case before the Court concerns racial discrimination in affirmative action programs in college admissions processes, specifically the University of North Carolina, which uses socioeconomic factors in administration and is claimed to incorporate race and violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The case seeks review of the Supreme Court decision Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) which validated the use of affirmative action programs in college admissions as long as race is not used as the sole deciding factor.

The case was originally certified and consolidated as part of Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, which involves Harvard University's undergraduate admissions process which is claimed to discriminate against Asian American applicants.

However, following the appointment of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was a member of the Harvard board, the cases were split with Jackson abstaining from the Harvard case while participating in the North Carolina one.

More from Trending

Nathan Lane
Phillip Faraone/WireImage

Nathan Lane Reveals Frustrating Reason 'Space Jam' Director Rejected Him For Role

Actor Nathan Lane, on publicity tour for a new TV series, discussed old films and old chances in an interview with Vanity Fair recently.

The actor—a Tony, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Laurence Olivier award winner—talked about how all the awards in the world did not land him a role in the iconic movie Space Jam back in 1997.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Viral Post Explains Why It's So Alarming That GOP Is Using Signal App For Top Secret Chats

Amid revelations that Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen, Threads user jeanie.online went viral after stressing why Trump administration officials are really using the app to discuss secret matters.

It's worth noting that Signal messages can be set and managed to disappear, as the team behind the app acknowledges on the Signal website:

Keep ReadingShow less
Brian Kilmeade
Fox News

Fox News Host Sparks Outrage With Disturbing Stance On Immigrant Deportations

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade enraged social media users after he said that undocumented immigrants "don't deserve" due process before getting deported.

On Monday's broadcast of the right-wing cable news channel Fox & Friends, Kilmeade stated that he didn't think it was "practical to do due process on 8 million people."

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Janet Mills
Win McNamee/Getty Images (left and right)

Trump Dragged After Demanding 'Full-Throated Apology' From Maine's Governor

President Donald Trump was called out after reviving his feud with Maine Governor Janet Mills, demanding a "full-throated apology" after she pushed back last month against his executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.

Last month, while discussing the order he'd signed on the issue, Trump threatened Mills after she said she would only comply with "state and federal laws," saying he'd deny federal funding for her state:

Keep ReadingShow less
Married couple in a mountainous field
Foto Pettine/Unsplash

The Biggest Red Flags People Have Ever Seen At A Wedding

Tying the knot with the person you see yourself spending the rest of your life with is one of life's greatest moments.

However, those who have an outside perspective of your relationship may see signs that your matrimonial bliss could be more of a miss.

Keep ReadingShow less