Thomas Sowell is an American author, economist, and political commentator who is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Thomas Sowell is the author of more than 45 books (including revised and new editions) on a variety of subjects including politics, economics, education and race, and he has been a syndicated columnist in more than 150 newspapers. Sowell was born in segregated Gastonia, North Carolina, to a poor family, and grew up in Harlem, New York City.
Due to poverty and difficulties at home, he dropped out of Stuyvesant High School and worked various odd jobs, eventually serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Afterward he took night classes at Howard University and then attended Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1958. He earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University the next year and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in 1968.
In his academic career, he has served on the faculties of Cornell University, Amherst College, Brandeis University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and, currently, Stanford University. He has also worked at think tanks including the Urban Institute.
Since 1977, he has worked at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy.
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Mason Watkins (24) shoots a jumper against Van Buren Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Jace Figuereo (3) passes around Van Buren’s Anthony Duncan (23) Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Anthony Duncan (23) hauls in a rebound Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) drives around Van Buren’s Wyatt Mertens (24) Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Parker Lau (4) shoots a three against Van Buren Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Hayden Vandenberg (30) goes to the basket past Van Buren’s Lucas Fett (12) Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Van Buren Warriors v West Burlington Falcons, Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington Falcons-66, Van Buren Warriors-36. Photos by Dan Hockett.
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s McKenna Marlow (10) shoots over Van Buren’s Sophia Jirak (1) and Sydney Meierotto (4) Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. Marlow scored 17-pionts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Alicia Cumberland (20) and Addison Brauns (21) double-team West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. Bence scored 22-points for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) was led all scorers with 22-points against Van Buren Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Callie Kracht (12) blocks West Burlington’s Isabella Blaufauss (2) Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Taryn Havener (14) hits a layup against Van Buren Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Kennedy Ritter (1) brings the ball down court against Van Buren Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Van Buren Warriors v West Burlington Falcons Tuesday December 6th, 2022 at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 51-17. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett Class 2A’s 10th–ranked West Burlington volleyball team celebrates 3-0 win over Van Buren in regional quarterfinal Wednesday, October 19th 2022 at West Burlington. West Burlington won 25-13, 25-8, 25-9. Iowa Class 2A’s 10th–ranked West Burlington Falcons volleyball team v. Van Buren in region-8 quarterfinal on Wednesday, October 19th 2022 in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 25-13, 25-8, 25-9. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) sets the ball for teammate Sophia Armstrong (19) during their match against Van Buren Thursday, October 6, 2022. Bence leads the State this season with 875-assists. Bence recently surpassed 2,700 career assists (2,706 to be exact and still counting). Tenth-ranked Class 2A West Burlington defeated Van Buren in three straight, 25-16, 25-5, 25-7
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Lauren Summers (33) serves to Van Buren Thursday, October 6, 2022. Tenth-ranked Class 2A West Burlington defeated Van Buren in three straight, 25-16, 25-5, 25-7. Van Buren Warriors v 10th ranked West Burlington Falcons, Thursday, October 6, 2022. Tenth-ranked Class 2A West Burlington defeated Van Buren in three straight, 25-16, 25-5, 25-7. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington third baseman Kody Allen (14) tags Van Buren’s Lucas Fett (23) out at third in the fourth-inning of the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in West Burlington. West Burlington won the first game 10-7; Van Buren won the second game, 19-2. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Dalton Hammond (47) beats the tag on a put-back by Van Buren’s Lucas Fett (23) and Van Buren’s Izaac Loeffler (14) in the second-inning of the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in West Burlington. West Burlington won the first game 10-7; Van Buren won the second game, 19-2. Van Buren Warriors v. West Burlington Falcons, Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at West Burlington, Iowa. WB won the first game; 10-7, VB won the second game; 19-2. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) shoots around Van Buren’s Izaak Loeffler (11) Tuesday night in West Burlington. Martin scored a game high 19-points for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Austin Applegate (33) shoots a three against Van Buren Tuesday night in West Burlington. Applegate scored 17-points for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Hayden Vandenberg (30) scored 10-points for the Falcons against Van Buren Tuesday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Izaak Loeffler (11) fights for a rebound with West Burlington’s Jace Figuereo (3) Tuesday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Jackson Manning (10) shoots over West Burlington’s Jackson Riley (11) Tuesday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Van Buren Warriors v West Burlington Falcons at West Burlington, Iowa, January, 4, 2022. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 81-42. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) is fouled by Van Buren’s Kadence Nusbaum (4) Tuesday night in West Burlington. Bence scored game high 32-points for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 58-33. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Kenna Marlow (1) goes to the basket around Van Buren’s Jaelyn Boley (2) Tuesday night in West Burlington. Marlow scored 13-points for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 58-33. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Riley Richards (13) goes to the basket around Van Buren’s Callie Kracht (12) Tuesday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 58-33. Van Buren Warriors v West Burlington Falcons at West Burlington, Iowa, January 4, 2022. West Burlington defeated Van Buren, 58-33. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abigail Bence (26) sets the ball in their match against Van Buren Thursday night in West Burlington. West Burlington swept Van Buren, 25-9, 25-21, 25-12. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington Libero Alexandrea Kellen (1) keeps the ball in play against Van Buren Thursday night in West Burlington. West Burlington swept Van Buren, 25-9, 25-21, 25-12. Photo by Dan Hockett Van Buren’s Isabel Manning (20) bumps the ball in play against West Burlington Thursday night in West Burlington. West Burlington swept Van Buren, 25-9, 25-21, 25-12. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington sisters McKenna (10) and Sydney (20) Marlow keep the ball in play against Van Buren Thursday night in West Burlington. West Burlington swept Van Buren, 25-9, 25-21, 25-12.