Thomas Sowell is a prominent American economist, social theorist, and political commentator. He is widely recognized for his contributions to economic theory, social policy, and political philosophy. He was born on June 30, 1930, in Gastonia, North Carolina. Sowell grew up in Harlem, New York City, after his family moved there during the Great Migration. Despite facing financial difficulties, he attended Stuyvesant High School and later served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. After his military service, he pursued higher education, earning a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. Throughout his academic career, Sowell taught at several prestigious institutions, including Cornell University, Brandeis University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Since 1977, he has been a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Sowell has authored over 45 books on topics ranging from economics and education to race and culture. Some of his most notable works include "Basic Economics," "A Conflict of Visions," and "Black Rednecks and White Liberals". His writings often emphasize free-market principles, individual responsibility, and the importance of empirical evidence in policy-making. Despite controversy and criticism, Sowell's work has had a significant impact on conservative and libertarian thought.