Anita Hill quotes

Anita Hill is a prominent American attorney, professor, and civil rights activist. Best known for her testimony during the 1991 Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, she bravely addressed allegations of sexual harassment. Hill's unwavering stance ignited a national conversation on workplace harassment and gender equality. With a background in law and academia, she currently serves as a professor of social policy, law, and women's studies at Brandeis University. Anita Hill continues to fight for justice, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and championing gender equity, making her an inspiring figure in the ongoing pursuit of equality in America.

I resent the idea that people would blame the messenger for the message, rather than looking at the content of the message itself.

- Anita Hill

One of the things I was taught in law school is that I'd never be able to think the same again - that being a lawyer is something that's part of who I am as an individual now.

- Anita Hill

The real problem is that the way that power is given out in our society pits us against each other.

- Anita Hill

It would have been more comfortable to remain silent.

- Anita Hill

But the issue of sexual harassment is not the end of it. There are other issues - political issues, gender issues - that people need to be educated about.

- Anita Hill

Testifying has helped me understand that one individual's behavior and actions make a difference. That my actions are important to people other than myself.

- Anita Hill

I was aware, however, that telling at any point in my career could adversely affect my future career.

- Anita Hill

I have no personal vendetta against Clarence Thomas. I seek only to provide the committee with information which it may regard as relevant.

- Anita Hill

Well, of course it was a very trying time for me, and fortunately I had a lot of people who were supportive. A lot of people who were writing and calling and saying they were praying for me. Some people sent me Scripture, and that helped.

- Anita Hill

In July of 1983, I left Washington, DC area and have had minimal contact with Judge Clarence Thomas since.

- Anita Hill

What we really need to be understanding is that all of these things matter and they all stem from the fact that certain people live with power and authority and they want to maintain it.

- Anita Hill

The FBI has had a history of sex discrimination complaints brought against it, as well as race discrimination.

- Anita Hill

I did what my conscience told me to do, and you can't fail if you do that.

- Anita Hill

Certainly my life will not ever be as private and discreet, and perhaps I should even use the word insulated, as it was before.

- Anita Hill

Because I was extremely uncomfortable talking about sex with him at all and particularly in such a graphic way, I told him that I did not want to talk about these subjects.

- Anita Hill

My parents are older, and they lead a somewhat sheltered life. It was difficult to talk with them about things that were embarrassing to me, and that I had never spoken to them about.

- Anita Hill

I'm not sure I can say there is a clean line between me as an individual and me as a lawyer.

- Anita Hill

I became the messenger who had to be killed.

- Anita Hill

I see myself as an educator.

- Anita Hill

For my undergraduate work, I went to Oklahoma State University and graduated from there in 1977.

- Anita Hill

I am really proud to be a part in whatever way of women becoming active in the political scene. I think it was the first time that people came to terms with the reality of what it meant to have a Senate made up of 98 men and two women.

- Anita Hill

I thought that by saying no and explaining my reasons my employer would abandon his social suggestions. However, to my regret, in the following few weeks, he continued to ask me out on several occasions.

- Anita Hill

But I think it would be irresponsible for me not to say what I really believe in my heart to be true - that there are some serious inequities that we face as women and that we can work to address these inequities.

- Anita Hill

We have a history of gender and racial bias on our court that continues to undermine the system. Excluding individuals based on race is antagonistic to the pursuit of justice.

- Anita Hill

When I think of what has happened in a larger sense, beyond myself, then I would not change anything.

- Anita Hill

Telling the world is the most difficult experience of my life, but it is very close to having to live through the experience that occasion this meeting.

- Anita Hill

The experience of testifying and the aftermath have changed my life.

- Anita Hill