Member-only story

Essie Mae Washington-Williams: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond

Jermaine Powell

·7.1k Followers· Follow

Published in Dear Senator: A Memoir By The Daughter Of Strom Thurmond

5 min read · 2 weeks before

173 View Claps

9 Respond

Save

Listen

Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the daughter of prominent segregationist politician Strom Thurmond, has written a memoir that explores her complex relationship with her father and her own experiences with race and identity in the American South. Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond was published in 2021 and has received critical acclaim for its honesty, insight, and historical significance.

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond

by Essie Mae Washington-Williams

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	348 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	187 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Washington-Williams was born in 1925, the same year that her father, Strom Thurmond Sr., was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. Thurmond Sr. went on to serve as governor of South Carolina and as a U.S. senator for over 40 years. He was a staunch segregationist who opposed the civil rights movement and supported white supremacy.

Washington-Williams's memoir provides a unique perspective on the life and career of her father. She writes about his childhood, his political ambitions, and his personal life. She also discusses her own experiences with racism and discrimination, both as the daughter of a prominent segregationist and as an African American woman living in the South.

One of the most striking things about Dear Senator is Washington-Williams's honesty. She does not shy away from discussing the difficult aspects of her relationship with her father. She writes about his racism, his sexism, and his infidelity. However, she also writes about his love for her and his desire to protect her.

Washington-Williams's memoir is also a valuable historical document. It provides a firsthand account of the civil rights movement in the American South. Washington-Williams writes about the Montgomery bus boycott, the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She also discusses the impact of these events on her own life and on the lives of African Americans in the South.

Dear Senator is a powerful and moving memoir that sheds light on a complex and controversial figure in American history. It is also a valuable historical document that provides a firsthand account of the civil rights movement in the American South.

The Ongoing Legacy of Race Relations in the United States

The publication of Dear Senator comes at a time when the United States is still grappling with the legacy of racism and segregation. The Black Lives Matter movement has brought renewed attention to the issue of police brutality and racial inequality. And the rise of white nationalism has led to a resurgence of racist and anti-Semitic violence.

Washington-Williams's memoir is a reminder that the fight for racial justice is far from over. It is a call to action for all Americans to work towards a more just and equitable society.

In Dear Senator, Washington-Williams writes: "I am a product of the South, a child of segregation. But I am also a child of God, and I believe that all people are created equal. I have dedicated my life to fighting for justice and equality, and I will continue to do so until the day I die."

Essie Mae Washington-Williams's memoir, Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond, is a powerful and moving account of a complex and controversial figure in American history. It is also a valuable historical document that provides a firsthand account of the civil rights movement in the American South. Washington-Williams's memoir is a reminder that the fight for racial justice is far from over, and it is a call to action for all Americans to work towards a more just and equitable society.

Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond

by Essie Mae Washington-Williams

4.6 out of 5