Dr. Ben Carson and the lessons from Clarence Thomas

(NNPA)—I will never forget the debate that engulfed Black America at the time of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the US Supreme Court.  On the one side was the fact of his conservative record and his not having any semblance of a history as a staunch advocate for African American rights. On the other hand, he was (and remains) genetically a person of African descent.  There were those who argued, quite forcefully, that the mere fact of his being genetically a person of African descent should be the deciding factor in whether to support him because, as was argued at the time, the moment that he had the job security of a Supreme Court appointment, African Americans could count on him to do the right thing. How terribly wrong this analysis proved to be.
Since the appointment of Justice Thomas there has been little, if any, indication that his genetic connection to Black America has translated into decisions in favor of Black America.  Justice Thomas has repeatedly sided against the interests of the majority of Black America, and actually, he has been quite unapologetic about it.