Is Clarence Thomas the first African American Justice?

Clarence Thomas has played a significant role as a justice on the Supreme Court since 1991. He holds a unique position as the second African American to hold this esteemed role, following in the footsteps of Thurgood Marshall. Let’s explore the journey of Clarence Thomas and his historic position on the Supreme Court.

Is Clarence Thomas the First African American Justice?

Clarence Thomas, appointed by President George H. W. Bush, has held the position of Supreme Court justice since 1991. His journey to this esteemed position was remarkable. Before Thomas, Thurgood Marshall, another African American, served as a justice on the Supreme Court. Marshall’s legacy paved the way for Thomas to assume this role.

Clarence Thomas is not the first African American justice on the Supreme Court, but he is the second. Thurgood Marshall held this distinction, serving from 1967 to 1991. Marshall was a trailblazer, as he was the first African American to hold a seat on the Supreme Court.

Since his appointment, Clarence Thomas has made history in his own right. After the retirement of Anthony Kennedy in 2018, Thomas became the longest-serving justice on the Court. Additionally, he holds the title of the Court’s oldest justice since Stephen Breyer’s retirement in 2022.