What he means by it is what he said he means - a Black person who "in any way deign(s) to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas." Yes, it had been a derogatory term used by whites against Blacks who were moving beyond their appointed station. But he appropriated it to make it a slam against Blacks who, in his view, didn't think for themselves, meaning they suppported Dems. Today, Candace Owens makes the same claim. She thinks for herself (about the Left/Dems), not like other Black people.
I'm no fan of Thomas, but I take him at his word on this.
What he means by it is what he said he means - a Black person who "in any way deign(s) to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas." Yes, it had been a derogatory term used by whites against Blacks who were moving beyond their appointed station. But he appropriated it to make it a slam against Blacks who, in his view, didn't think for themselves, meaning they suppported Dems. Today, Candace Owens makes the same claim. She thinks for herself (about the Left/Dems), not like other Black people.
I'm no fan of Thomas, but I take him at his word on this.