By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on February 28, 2024
An Editorial Opinion
The word "jackanapes" is a colloquial term for a monkey on a leash or an impudent person. In American society, "jackanapes" is typically associated with a monkey who dances for an organ grinder.
In my view, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is the first and only “Uncle Tom” in American history to make it all the way to “jackanapes” status. By his words and actions as a Supreme Court Justice, Thomas is an impudent "Uncle Tom" on a leash.
Unlike a traditional “jackanapes” who is owned by one organ grinder, Clarence Thomas proudly buck-dances for billionaire Harlan Crow and the close-knit group of organ grinders depicted in the photo below that was published last year by ProPublica.
Clarence Thomas is rewarded handsomely for his non-stop buck-dancing for these well-known organ grinders. Instead of peanuts, bananas, and pats on the head as his reward for his buck-dancing, Thomas gets: (a) free trips to exotic ports of call around the world, (b) hefty consulting fees for his wife (which were supposed to be kept on the "down-low"), (c) money to fix up his mother's home, (d) money for a relative's private school tuition, (e) loan money to buy a new RV (which was never repaid), (f) repeated pats on the head and accolades, and (g) de facto immunity from federal prosecution for his pay-to-play schemes at the Supreme Court.
None of these "jackanapes" perks has been reported on Thomas' tax returns or annual financial disclosure forms. Because Thomas is an iconic "jackanapes," he does not have to worry about a criminal prosecution on federal bribery and tax evasion charges.
Clarence Thomas' organ grinders seemingly "love" him and admire his iron-clad devotion to their racist causes. In their eyes, Thomas is the perfect "jackanapes."
Throughout his 32 years on the Supreme Court, Thomas has been reliable, dependable, consistent, and properly trained on how to buck-dance to his organ grinders’ music. Thomas has NEVER complained about buck-dancing, nor disappointed these organ grinders.
What is more, Thomas has used his considerable buck-dancing skills on the Supreme Court to inflict the maximum possible pain and suffering on Black Americans.
Last week, we learned that Clarence Thomas and his wife Ginni are grooming, platforming, and launching the legal career of flaming White racist Crystal Clanton. I define a “flaming” White racist as someone who texts the following message to a fellow White co-worker: “I HATE BLACK PEOPLE. Like fuck them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story.”
There have been “Uncle Toms” among us for hundreds of years. However, Clarence Thomas, is the first and only “Uncle Tom” in American history to make it all the way to “jackanapes” status.