Gary Franks: Former Republican congressman regrets supporting Clarence Thomas

Last May at a conservative function held in Dallas, the Old Parkland Conference, where Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was in attendance for the weekend event, along with dozens of minority conservatives, I had an interesting experience. I got “kicked out” of the conference because I challenged the views of a panel.

The overall sense I got was that the confernce was really an anti-Harvard and anti-UNC rally on the dismantling of the college admissions process, especially the consideration of race as part of a prospective student’s college application. This was clearly an overt attempt to lessen the presence of Black Americans at top universities via bad folks using Asian Americans as pawns in their attack.

One influential panel featured those representing the viewpoint of the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case on the issue (i.e., race being a factor in admissions). The panel strongly suggested Black people would be better off going to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) where they would “feel more comfortable.”

That’s a rather racist idea. I am sure members of the Ku Klux Klan would feel the same. Hopefully, this gives you an idea as to why I “went off.”

After all, there was a time, due to racism, when Black people could only attend HBCUs. I told panel members that my siblings were not allowed to receive an undergraduate degree from a major predominately white institution. Despite these challenges, my siblings went on to become college professors and a brother a colonel.

First and foremost, I commend the academic achievements of Asian Americans. However, I spoke out against their position. At times their comments were very demeaning toward Black people — and they made them right in front of Black people. Their idea of fairness contained a faulty logic.

Does it make sense for Asian Americans to complain about college admissions when they represent 19% of the student body at Harvard, despite comprising only 7% of the overall U.S. population?

Also it should be noted that to bring a lawsuit, the plaintiffs must show they were harmed. But there is no proof that anyone from the Asian-American community was wrongfully rejected from Harvard.

Prior to the panel discussion during which I got the boot, I was at Justice Clarence Thomas’ table for lunch. I debunked one of his comments about Black people not being equipped to compete academically at the top schools.

I reminded Thomas about the achievements of Black “Yalies” during my four years there, which partially overlapped with his Yale Law School days. These achievements would prove the opposite to what he was saying and what the conference was aiming at.

Of my Black classmates, a few went on to complete Yale in three years. One became chairman and CEO of a Fortune 500 company, another a federal judge, another a world renowned brain surgeon, another an ambassador, another a presidential cabinet member; two became Rhodes Scholars, another a mayor and five (starting with me) went on to become members of Congress. In addition, there were a slew who went on to become doctors, lawyers, professors and business professionals.

After I mentioned this, the lunch table of about 10 people, including Thomas, went silent for several minutes.

During my questions and remarks to a panel representing the Asian-American plaintiffs, I was interrupted, scolded and then asked to leave immediately by one of the organizers. “You should leave right now. I told them not to invite you,” the person told me.

The Asian Americans representing the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case complained that they did not fare well during the interview process because evaluators “did not like them” and too much weight was given to the interview in their overall evaluation.

I countered their point. Communication skills are a part of the admissions process at top universities, and they admittedly did poorly here. The top schools are grooming our future leaders. You cannot lead if you cannot communicate.

Now, let’s look back to my first encounter with Clarence Thomas back in 1991. (for I had two encounters with him) The White House asked me to support Thomas’ nomination to the Supreme Court. I balked initially, pending the opportunity to meet and question Thomas. Everyone in the GOP leadership felt that if the lone Black Republican in Congress opposed his nomination, it would be problematic, especially considering the tough road he had to travel to get confirmed. I had the opportunity to question him on his actions as chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (he served in that role from 1982 to 1990). I was impressed with his record of cleaning up the backlog and attaining settlements which paid victims and helped to prevent the blackballing of those brave enough to challenge their powerful employers.

Soon thereafter, I held a well-attended news conference announcing my support for Thomas.

Today, I regret that decision for many reasons. But the Old Parkland Conference experience and the apparent dislike of Black people espoused by many turned me off. The patronizing attitude of holding Black people back from the best schools for “their” own good was disgusting.

It would have been more genuine for them to just say they did not want Black people in schools with white people. They did not want Black people to compete against white people for “their” (Black people’s) own good.

I pray the Supreme Court does not follow Thomas’ lead when deciding issues that can negatively impact Black people in America.