Stephan Thernstrom, the acclaimed historian and prominent critic of affirmative action, passed away on January 23, 2025, at the age of 90, at an assisted-living facility in Arlington, Virginia. His daughter, Melanie Thernstrom, revealed he had succumbed to complications of dementia after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
Born on November 5, 1934, Thernstrom was raised by Swedish immigrant parents and grew up witnessing the struggles of both immigrant laborers and native-born workers. A graduate of Northwestern University and Harvard, he became known for his dedication to studying social mobility and the American Dream, advocating for analytical approaches to studying history.
Starting with his first book, Poverty and Progress (1964), Thernstrom pioneered the use of quantitative methods to explore working-class history. His groundbreaking techniques involved analyzing property records, census data, and archival materials. Tellingly, he was awarded the prestigious Bancroft Prize for his contributions to the field, reinforcing his status as one of America's leading historians.
Perhaps Thernstrom and his wife, political scientist Abigail Thernstrom, are most recognized for their bold critiques of affirmative action. Their co-authored work, America in Black and White: One Nation, Indivisible (1997), argued against what they termed divisive racial preferences, which they believed overshadowed the significant gains African Americans achieved since the Jim Crow era.
Reflecting on their views, Thernstrom claimed, "If you need double standards in admission, should we also have double standards in grades, graduation requirements, even professional accreditation tests such as the bar exam? Our point is: racial preferences are a Band-Aid over a cancer." This sentiment captured the essence of their ideology, which many conservative critics fervently endorsed during the culture wars of the 1990s.
While revered by conservatives, the Thernstroms faced criticism from some academics who believed their perspectives were overly reductive, ignoring the substantial contemporary challenges African Americans faced. Vocal opponents like political scientist Andrew Hacker maintained, “Here are two white people who are… lecturing Black Americans.” Thernstrom, unfazed by such criticism, maintained his conviction and insisted on the empirical validity of their research.
Stephan Thernstrom's intellectual evolution was notable; he began his academic career firmly rooted in leftist ideals but gradually transitioned to neoconservatism during the late 20th century. He lambasted racial preferences as detrimental to social unity, asserting, "That seemed to me then absolutely the ideal — you admit people without any reference to their race. And it still seems to be the ideal to me. What’s different is…now it’s a so-called conservative idea." This encapsulation of his political shift highlights the broader cultural transformations he witnessed throughout his life.
His involvement with the political and educational reforms pushed during George W. Bush's administration is particularly noteworthy. Thernstrom and Abigail challenged the established education structures, advocating for policies like school vouchers and charter schools as solutions to entrenched inequalities. They aligned their work with the philosophy of systemic reform, arguing against what they termed the "fortress" nature of American urban education.
Throughout his career, Thernstrom's work served to illuminate the complex interactions between race, history, and class. His research challenged the notion of the American Dream as universally accessible, highlighting instead the uneven patterns of social mobility experienced by different ethnic groups.
Despite his shifting political stance, the legacy of Stephan Thernstrom remains significant. His rigorous methodologies and commitment to advancing historical discourse through empirical evidence left an indelible mark on the field of American history. Trained under Pulitzer Prize winner Oscar Handlin at Harvard, Thernstrom’s dedication to highlighting ordinary lives over traditional narratives of power distinguished his scholarship uniquely.
Thernstrom is survived by his children, including his daughter Melanie, and his son Samuel, who is committed to promoting alternative energy technologies. His passing marks the loss of one of the 20th century's most controversial but impactful figures in historical scholarship, whose work sparked pivotal discussions about race relations and education policy.
Though he encountered considerable backlash and remained embroiled in the politically charged environment of his time, Stephan Thernstrom's voice contributed significantly to the discourse surrounding race and opportunity. He will be remembered not only for his nuanced historical analyses but also for his steadfast commitment to seeking out the truth, regardless of prevailing ideologies.