1956-
Law Professor

Early Years.

Anita F. Hill was born in 1956 in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, the youngest daughter of farmers. A devoted Baptist, she attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1977. She earned her J.D. at Yale University in 1980 and took a position with Wald, Harkrader & Ross of Washington. In 1981 she met Clarence Thomas and began to work with him in his capacity as Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights. In 1983 she accepted a teaching post at Oral Roberts University, and later taught law at the University of Oklahoma.

Reluctant Testimony.

In September 1991 Hill was asked if she knew anything about allegations that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Thomas had sexually harassed women. After several inquiries, she acknowledged that she had been a victim. On 10 September the Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on Thomas's nomination. Initially, Hill resisted testifying. The committee voted thirteen to...