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.

If you think about the way the hearings were structured, the hearings were really about Thomas' race and my gender.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

It would have been more comfortable to remain silent.

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.

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

During this period at the Department of Education, my working relationship with Judge Thomas was positive.

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