1. What is significant about Clarence Thomas’ tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court?

2. How do SCOTUSBlog’s Tom Goldstein and UCLA law professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig view Justice Thomas’ opinions on the court?

3. Consider the following:

• Thurgood Marshall, who served from 1967-1991, was the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Since then, Clarence Thomas is the only other African-American justice. He was appointed as Marshall's successor in 1991.
• The Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture recently opened in Washington DC.
• With more than 36,000 artifacts, the museum is “devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, history and culture.”
• But the story of Justice Thomas — who rose from bitter poverty in the Jim Crow South to a seat on the nation’s highest court, is ignored.
• Our nation’s second black Supreme Court justice is not included in the museum. Its official excuse:  “[We] can't tell every story in our inaugural exhibitions.”

Mr. Paoletta asserts in this commentary, “[Justice Thomas’] is a story that should be celebrated by all Americans. That it isn’t is a travesty.”

a) Do you agree with this assertion? Explain your answer.
b) Ask a parent or grandparent the same question.