Dear Clarence Thomas,

I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding your behavior as of late. It seems that your name has been in the news quite a lot regarding your behavior with one Anita Hill. I’m sure you are aware that Ms. Hill is a respectable African American woman, who has overcome obstacles to seek an education. Mr. Thomas, I do not mean to judge, but I believe that you, in all your high status glory, have wrongfully taken advantage of Ms. Hill, who has served you well in her assistant roles, and of the situation.

What enrages me the most in this whole debacle is that though race was often ignored in the trials, when it was brought up, you exploited the situation. Correct me if I’m wrong, but instead of recognizing what Ms. Hill’s sexual harassment means within the black community, you have used this situation to martyr yourself as a black man being metaphorically lynched by a whitewashed society.

Yes, it is important to understand that every situation including your own can be examined through this interracial lens. However, Mr. Thomas, I beg of you to please look at this situation from a different perspective. Have you ever thought to consider Ms. Hill’s perspective and circumstances? She is a black woman, whose integrity and reputation you have tainted, by exploiting this situation to your advantage both prior to and during the trial. Not only have you neglected to address her plight by focusing on your own, but you have also perpetuated the stereotype that black women in particular are deserving of sexual exploitation because of the unfounded and harmful belief that black women are more sexually primitive than the white woman.

In your testimony, you use race to confront the power dynamic between the white and black community. However, that is not what should be at issue in this trial. Ms. Hill, as a black woman, was taken advantage by you, a man--a black man. Shouldn’t the issue then be about the challenges facing black women who are subject to the hybridity of racism and sexism, as well as the gender dynamics within the black community? Isn’t this also problematic because we accept the community for what it is and fail to recognize that internal problems exist that must be addressed?

I leave you with several questions, Mr. Thomas. I have brought up that within the black community, there are certain conflicts, such as gender conflicts, that are often neglected. What do you think are the consequences in addressing a conflict, such as gender inequities, that exist within a racial/ethnic community? How might these consequences affect the dynamics between the dominant and minority racial groups? Must we always target those from without at the expense of saving face for those from within? What does this say about societal perceptions on the mutability of race and culture?

Please do consider these questions. I am eager to hear what you have to say.

Sincerely,
Evelyn

Questions (included in letter)

1) What do you think the consequences are in addressing a conflict, such as gender inequities, that exist within a racial/ethnic community? How might these consequences affect the dynamics between the dominant and minority racial groups?

2) We often examine race and culture through the lens of the outside. While the relationship between races and between cultures can change, the examination of a single race and culture is often static. What does this say about societal perceptions on the mutability of race and culture?