Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_l6gn.pdf
Page Number: 81

Cite as:  600 U. S. ____ (2023) 

33 

THOMAS, J., concurring 

makes race relevant to the provision of burdens or benefits, 
it  demeans  us  all.”    Grutter,  539  U. S.,  at  353  (opinion  of 
THOMAS, J.). 

A 
The Constitution’s colorblind rule reflects one of the core 
principles  upon  which  our  Nation  was  founded:  that  “all
men are created equal.”  Those words featured prominently 
in our Declaration of Independence and were inspired by a
rich  tradition  of  political  thinkers,  from  Locke  to  Montes-
quieu, who considered equality to be the foundation of a just 
government.    See,  e.g.,  J.  Locke,  Second  Treatise  of  Civil 
Government 48 (J. Gough ed. 1948); T. Hobbes, Leviathan 
98 (M. Oakeshott ed. 1962); 1 B. Montesquieu, The Spirit of 
Laws 121 (T. Nugent transl., J. Prichard ed. 1914).  Several 
Constitutions enacted by the newly independent States at 
the founding reflected this principle.  For example, the Vir-
ginia  Bill  of  Rights  of  1776  explicitly  affirmed  “[t]hat  all
men are by nature equally free and independent, and have 
certain inherent rights.”  Ch. 1, §1.  The State Constitutions 
of  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Hampshire 
adopted  similar  language.  Pa.  Const.,  Art.  I  (1776),  in  2
Federal and State Constitutions 1541 (P. Poore ed. 1877);
Mass.  Const.,  Art.  I  (1780),  in  1  id.,  at  957;  N. H.  Const., 
Art. I (1784), in 2 id., at 1280.5  And, prominent Founders 

—————— 

5 In fact, the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1783 declared that slav-
ery was abolished in Massachusetts by virtue of the newly enacted Con-
stitution’s provision of equality under the law.  See The Quock Walker 
Case, in 1 H. Commager, Documents of American History 110 (9th ed. 
1973) (Cushing, C. J.) (“[W]hatever sentiments have formerly prevailed
in this particular or slid in upon us by the example of others, a different 
idea has taken place with the people of America, more favorable to the
natural  rights  of  mankind,  and  to  that  natural,  innate  desire  of  Lib-
erty . . . .  And upon this ground our Constitution of Government . . . sets 
out with declaring that all men are born free and equal . . . and in short 
is totally repugnant to the idea of being born slaves”).