> supreme court justice clarence thomas sat down for a conversation about his life and career at duquesne university law school in pittsburgh. the justice discussed race in america, the inner workings of the supreme court, and also give advice to law students. this event is just over one ho hour. >> the story of your life growing up is really a remarkable one, justice thomas. do you know which part of west africa your family came from, how they ended up in point georgia? >> i think they lost the itinerary. [laughter] >> no, that was in the 1700s. so i don't think anyone quite knows anything much for those who are from the deep south, much was unwritten. the people are into their genealogy now. i have no idea of much of my own genealogy. and some of my relatives told me you don't want to know much. but the answer is no, and it's unfortunate. that is one reason why in the last few years we have tried to focus on drawing to retain some of what is left of that culture. when you look across the country, you see the fine buildings, the sandstone buildings, the beautiful architecture that is as

he broke his silence on the bench not long ago, back in january and talked to a duquesne university foruminteresting just to hear him talk. take a listen. >> did you ever expect to see an african-american president during your lifetime? is that something you thought would happen? >> oh, yeah. yes, i've always thought there would be black coaches, black heads of universities. maybe, again, as i said, i'm naive. but i knew it would have to be a black president who was approved by the elites, by the media. anybody they didn't agree with, they would take apart. >> he's still angry. >> yeah, got a grudge. a little bitter. >> you think so? >> yeah. i agree with clarence thomas on one hand. i never thought i would see an african-american president in my lifetime. we're both southerners. but on the other hand, there was talk at one point about colin powell possible running, condoleezza rice. and clearly reverend jesse jackson paved the way for us to have this moment, african-american voter registration shot up over the last three decades. but clarence thomas is a sort of unique individual. he has

i think they would have a different perspective and add something to the court.>> speaking of duquesnethe school was founded and is run in the spirit of priests. you mention in the book that you frequently prayed to the holy spirit when you were faced with difficult and challenging times. why was the holy spirit important in your life? >> it is hard for me when you say "the priest" i always thought of them as the holy ghost fathers. i'm trying to be modern. i'm not trying to very hard. [laughter]although i do have an ipad. [laughter] that's only because it was forced upon me. i just think -- i'm one of these people who still believes it is through grace that you do lots of things. it was my grandmother, that when i go home and i was angry and upset and fighting with my grandfather she would pull me aside and say son, say your prayers. or i would have problems and say son, turn it over the lord. it was always the same answer.i really mean it. i was not being glib when i said to you i didn't have any political transformation. i just went back home. willou just read my book you see that i

kent moores, professor at duquesne university. thanks for joining us. >> thanks, ashley.if you live anywhere from north carolina to connecticut and you have small children in school, you have either heard about or actually heard the cicada. they're making their once every 17 year appearance and kids are studying them very hard in school. they're not technically dangerous as my little one told me but they can be extremely loud, producing sounds up to 120 decibels. they can actually cause permanent hearing loss if they sang just outside your ear. i think you have bigger issues if you're holding a cicada up to your ear. "consumer reports" tested noise canneling headphones to mute the cicadas. the favorite, the beats by dre, which cost $300. they also like a sony over the ear model which run about $240. a much cheaper option is jcc inner ear pair that costs 42. either way they're you loud and annoying as any elementary school is learning, don't kill them. they eventually will go away. ashley: close-up view they are like the planet neptune. they can make such a loud screech. t

i met him with tom who graduated, again, from duquesne, a wonderful man, ambassador to the vatican ands with me at the department of education, but we were there with them in the 90s at the time, still is, and she was going through are -- through the items in her l room, and sea shied, when i die, this goes to my sister, my relatives, this goes to this person, and she took a photo of the two of us, and she did this to her chest, comiews -- excuse me, and she said this goes with my coffin with me. you become very quickly the kid they are pushing to grow suddenly becomes their child, and she, to say this photo that is just of us, is that precious that it will go there, and where she is to last lay. >> you took latin there, i understand? you were good winning the latin bee; correct? >> what a torment. [laughter] >> my children might see this program. >> well, the only latin i remember is always wear underwear. that's all i retained. [laughter] >> oh, boy. [laughter] >> i went to a catholic school. that's what i learned. >> oh, my goodness. i can't believe you just did that. [laughter] tha

from duquesne and mba from wharton and j.d. from pennsylvania law school. i met with him as i have the other nominees and find him to be knowledgeable about our system. he has written entire books about the end all or be and i'm glad to present him to the committee. >> thank you senator alexander. i recognize senator murphy for the purpose of an introduction. >> thank you very much chairman harkin and ranking member alexander for letting me introduce a dedicated public servant who is a capable member of the national labor relations board. sharon block is the current board member who has dedicated her life to public service. she served with integrity as a board member since january of 2012 and previously she served as deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs in the department of labor and is the senior labor and employment counsel for this committee where she worked for senator kennedy. ms. block is also served as a senior attorney to chairman robert t. steffen national labor relations board from 1994 to 96 and was the general counsel of the nati