Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell is a prominent American economist, economic historian, and social theorist. He is a well-known voice in the American conservative movement. Many people describe him as a leading black conservative. He has also suggested that the label "libertarian" might suit him better. A libertarian is someone who often supports individual freedom and free markets. Sowell has spent his life studying how economics and social policies affect people. His work covers many subjects, including race, education, and politics.

Sowell's early life was marked by significant economic hardship. He was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, in 1930. His father died shortly before his birth. His mother worked as a housemaid and had four children. Sowell was eventually raised by a great-aunt and her two daughters. In his autobiography, *A Personal Odyssey*, he describes his early home in Charlotte. It was a small wooden house on an unpaved street. The house had no electricity or running water. When he was nine, he moved to Harlem, New York City.

Despite these challenges, Sowell showed great academic potential. He qualified for Stuyvesant High School, a prestigious school in New York City. He was the first person in his family to study past the sixth grade. However, he had to drop out at age 17 due to financial difficulties. He worked various odd jobs, including working in a machine shop. He also worked as a delivery man for Western Union. In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He served until 1952, when he received an honorable discharge.

After his military service, Sowell pursued higher education with great success. He attended night classes at Howard University, a historically black college. He later gained admission to Harvard University. He graduated *magna cum laude* in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He earned a Master of Arts from Columbia University the following year. Sowell then moved to the University of Chicago to study for his doctorate. He studied under the famous economist George Stigler. In 1968, he received his PhD in economics. His dissertation was titled "Say's law and the General glut Controversy."

Sowell's intellectual views underwent a major change during his 20s. He stated that he was a Marxist during that time. Marxism is a political and economic theory. However, his views shifted after he worked as an intern for the U.S. Department of Labor. He studied the impact of minimum wages on sugar-industry workers in Puerto Rico. This research led him to support free-market economics. He eventually wrote a book called *Marxism: Philosophy and Economics* to critique the theory. He has since become a leading representative of the Chicago school of economics.

Throughout his career, Sowell held many important academic positions. He was an assistant professor at Cornell University from 1965 to 1969. He also taught at Brandeis University, Amherst College, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Since 1977, he has been a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He holds the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow position there. This role allowed him more time to focus on his extensive writing. He has authored more than 45 books on various social and economic topics. He was also a syndicated columnist for more than 150 newspapers.

Sowell's influence extends into the highest levels of American government and law. In 1980, he helped organize the Black Alternatives Conference. This event brought together black and white conservatives. A young Clarence Thomas attended this conference. Sowell was also a member of the Economic Policy Advisory Committee for the Reagan administration. Although he resigned from the committee, he remained an influential figure in the conservative movement. He was once offered roles such as Federal Trade Commissioner and Secretary of Education. He declined both positions to avoid political complications. In 2002, President George W. Bush awarded him the National Humanities Medal.

Sowell's work is noted for its high level of academic citation. Between 1971 and 1990, he was the second-most cited black economist. From 1991 to 1995, he was the most cited black economist. His writing often explores the tension between government programs and individual autonomy. He also discusses the effects of judicial activism and the importance of free markets. In 2016, at age 86, he announced he would stop his syndicated column. He decided to spend more time on his favorite hobby, which is photography.