Clarence Thomas became the second African American to serve on the US Supreme Court when he succeeded the first, Thurgood Marshall, in 1991.

Thomas is the longest-serving member of this Supreme Court, and he is considered a conservative justice.

Thomas is seen in a high school yearbook photo. Thomas was born June 23, 1948. He grew up in poverty in segregated Georgia.
Thomas is seen in a high school yearbook photo. Thomas was born June 23, 1948. He grew up in poverty in segregated Georgia.
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Thomas does schoolwork in another yearbook photo.
Thomas does schoolwork in another yearbook photo.
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Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents as a devout Catholic. He went to the College of the Holy Cross and graduated with a degree in English literature. He then got a law degree from Yale Law School.
Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents as a devout Catholic. He went to the College of the Holy Cross and graduated with a degree in English literature. He then got a law degree from Yale Law School.
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In 1982, Thomas was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to become chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Before that, he was an assistant attorney general in Missouri (1974-77), an attorney for the Monsanto Corp. (1977-79), a legislative assistant to US Sen. John Danforth (1979-81), and an assistant secretary for civil rights at the US Department of Education (1981-82). 
In 1982, Thomas was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to become chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Before that, he was an assistant attorney general in Missouri (1974-77), an attorney for the Monsanto Corp. (1977-79), a legislative assistant to US Sen. John Danforth (1979-81), and an assistant secretary for civil rights at the US Department of Education (1981-82). 
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Thomas, second from left, stands with Reagan as the President addressed black appointees at the White House in 1984.
Thomas, second from left, stands with Reagan as the President addressed black appointees at the White House in 1984.
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Thomas sits with US President George H.W. Bush at his vacation home in 1991. Bush nominated Thomas to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. At the time, Thomas was a judge for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Thomas sits with US President George H.W. Bush at his vacation home in 1991. Bush nominated Thomas to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. At the time, Thomas was a judge for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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Thomas walks down the steps of the US Capitol after meeting with members of Congress in July 1991.
Thomas walks down the steps of the US Capitol after meeting with members of Congress in July 1991.
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Thomas is sworn in for his Senate confirmation hearings, which turned out to be contentious. Two days before the scheduled Senate vote, it was reported that law professor Anita Hill had made allegations of sexual harassment against Thomas. The vote was then delayed for a week after Thomas asked for time to clear his name and bolster support for his nomination.
Thomas is sworn in for his Senate confirmation hearings, which turned out to be contentious. Two days before the scheduled Senate vote, it was reported that law professor Anita Hill had made allegations of sexual harassment against Thomas. The vote was then delayed for a week after Thomas asked for time to clear his name and bolster support for his nomination.
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Thomas faces a Senate committee on the first day of his confirmation hearings.
Thomas faces a Senate committee on the first day of his confirmation hearings.
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US Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, meets with members of Thomas' family prior to the start of a hearing in September 1991. From left is Thomas' wife, Virginia; his son, Jamal; his mother, Leola; and his sister Emma Mae.
US Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, meets with members of Thomas' family prior to the start of a hearing in September 1991. From left is Thomas' wife, Virginia; his son, Jamal; his mother, Leola; and his sister Emma Mae.
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During the confirmation hearings, Hill testified that Thomas sexually harassed her while she worked with him at the Education Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She said Thomas frequently asked her out on dates and described his sexual interests to her. Thomas denied the allegations during his testimony.
During the confirmation hearings, Hill testified that Thomas sexually harassed her while she worked with him at the Education Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She said Thomas frequently asked her out on dates and described his sexual interests to her. Thomas denied the allegations during his testimony.
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Bush meets with Thomas in October 1991 and reaffirms his "total confidence" in the Supreme Court nominee.
Bush meets with Thomas in October 1991 and reaffirms his "total confidence" in the Supreme Court nominee.
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Thomas leaves his Alexandria, Virginia, home with his wife in October 1991.
Thomas leaves his Alexandria, Virginia, home with his wife in October 1991.
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Thomas speaks to the press after the Senate confirmed his appointment by a vote of 52-48.
Thomas speaks to the press after the Senate confirmed his appointment by a vote of 52-48.
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Thomas is sworn in to the Supreme Court by Justice Byron White. Joining him is his wife, the President and first lady Barbara Bush.
Thomas is sworn in to the Supreme Court by Justice Byron White. Joining him is his wife, the President and first lady Barbara Bush.
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Thomas joins the rest of the Supreme Court justices in November 1991.
Thomas joins the rest of the Supreme Court justices in November 1991.
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Thomas talks to reporters outside the Supreme Court in November 1991.
Thomas talks to reporters outside the Supreme Court in November 1991.
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Thomas and his wife, Virginia, in 1991. The two married in 1987. Thomas had been married once before.
Thomas and his wife, Virginia, in 1991. The two married in 1987. Thomas had been married once before.
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Members of the Supreme Court pose for a formal portrait in December 1991. In the back row, from left, are David Souter, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Thomas. Seated from left are John Paul Stevens, Byron White, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Harry Blackmun and Sandra Day O'Connor.
Members of the Supreme Court pose for a formal portrait in December 1991. In the back row, from left, are David Souter, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Thomas. Seated from left are John Paul Stevens, Byron White, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Harry Blackmun and Sandra Day O'Connor.
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Thomas shakes hands with Donald Trump while serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500 in 1999.
Thomas shakes hands with Donald Trump while serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500 in 1999.
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Thomas sits in his chambers with three of his clerks in 2002.
Thomas sits in his chambers with three of his clerks in 2002.
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Thomas speaks at a Heritage Foundation luncheon in 2007.
Thomas speaks at a Heritage Foundation luncheon in 2007.
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Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, DC, shakes hands with Thomas in 2015.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, DC, shakes hands with Thomas in 2015.
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Thomas speaks at the memorial service for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
Thomas speaks at the memorial service for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
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President Donald Trump shakes Thomas' hand at his inauguration in 2017.
President Donald Trump shakes Thomas' hand at his inauguration in 2017.
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Thomas and other Supreme Court justices attend the White House ceremony where newest member Neil Gorsuch was taking his judicial oath in 2017.
Thomas and other Supreme Court justices attend the White House ceremony where newest member Neil Gorsuch was taking his judicial oath in 2017.
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The Supreme Court poses for a portrait in November 2018. In the back row, from left, are Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh. In the front, from left, are Stephen Breyer, Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Samuel Alito.
The Supreme Court poses for a portrait in November 2018. In the back row, from left, are Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh. In the front, from left, are Stephen Breyer, Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Samuel Alito.
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Members of the Supreme Court pause in front of the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state at the US Capitol Rotunda in 2018.
Members of the Supreme Court pause in front of the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state at the US Capitol Rotunda in 2018.
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Thomas and his wife, Virginia, arrive at the White House for a state dinner with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in September 2019.
Thomas and his wife, Virginia, arrive at the White House for a state dinner with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in September 2019.
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Thomas leaves the podium after making a keynote address at the new Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta in February 2020.
Thomas leaves the podium after making a keynote address at the new Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta in February 2020.
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Thomas poses with his Supreme Court colleagues in April 2021.
Thomas poses with his Supreme Court colleagues in April 2021.
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Thomas speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, in October 2021.
Thomas speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, in October 2021.
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