I thought that by saying no and explaining my reasons my employer would abandon his social suggestions. However, to my regret, in the following few weeks, he continued to ask me out on several occasions.
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.
But I think it would be irresponsible for me not to say what I really believe in my heart to be true - that there are some serious inequities that we face as women and that we can work to address these inequities.
Certainly my life will not ever be as private and discreet, and perhaps I should even use the word insulated, as it was before.
During this period at the Department of Education, my working relationship with Judge Thomas was positive.
For my undergraduate work, I went to Oklahoma State University and graduated from there in 1977.
I am really proud to be a part in whatever way of women becoming active in the political scene. I think it was the first time that people came to terms with the reality of what it meant to have a Senate made up of 98 men and two women.
I did what my conscience told me to do, and you can't fail if you do that.
I have no personal vendetta against Clarence Thomas. I seek only to provide the committee with information which it may regard as relevant.
I resent the idea that people would blame the messenger for the message, rather than looking at the content of the message itself.
I think, though, as African-American women, we are always trained to value our community even at the expense of ourselves, and so we attempt to protect the African-American community.
I was aware, however, that telling at any point in my career could adversely affect my future career.
If you think about the way the hearings were structured, the hearings were really about Thomas' race and my gender.
The FBI has had a history of sex discrimination complaints brought against it, as well as race discrimination.
In July of 1983, I left Washington, DC area and have had minimal contact with Judge Clarence Thomas since.