Black conservative Armstrong Williams, a protege of Thurmond's, also disagrees with Sons of Confederate Veteran member Wilson. He says Thurmond all but admitted to him Mrs. Washington-Williams was his daughter several times over the years.
There was a conversation that occurred at a 1996 Washington Urban League ceremony honoring myself and Sen. Thurmond for the growing bonds between black and white Americans. Back stage, Sen. Thurmond leaned over and said, "You know, I have deep roots in the black community — deep roots."
His voice softened into a raspy whisper: "You've heard the rumors."
"Are they just rumors, senator?" I asked.
"I've had a fulfilling life," cackled Thurmond, winking salaciously.
The subject came up again while the senator and I were attending a S.C. State football game in Orangeburg. He mentioned how he had arranged for Williams to attend S.C. State College while he was governor. (Sen. Thurmond caused a stir when his official car rolled onto campus for a visit.)
"When a man brings a child in the world, he should take care of that child," said Thurmond, who then added, "she'll never say anything and neither will you — not while I'm alive."
I wish the senator's daughter had spoken up while he was alive. If she had done so, he would not have been able to go to his grave without first confronting the immorality of the bigotry he exploited to achieve his political stature. But, considering Mrs. Washington-Williams' age, I am not surprised she chose not to rock the boat. Few African-Americans over the age of 50 have not had fear of white people instilled in them as part of their experiences growing up.
Writer Earl Ofari Hutchinson is not exactly welcoming the new member of his extended family - J. Strom Thurmond.
The skeleton that rattled in the late South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond's closet with the revelation that he may have fathered a black child also rattled for me. If Essie Mae Washington-Williams is indeed his daughter, and she claims to have documents and has offered to take DNA tests to prove it, then my two granddaughters who are her great granddaughters are Strom Thurmond's great-great granddaughters.
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
Diva, if anything you took it too easy on Thurmond. I will note, however, that being "pro-defense and anti-government social programs" does not in any way imply racism, which seems to be the point of that statement. Defending the country means defending black folks as much as white.
Joe Wilson is a grade-A jackass for considering the simple revelation of the paternity of Thurmond's daughter an "attack." I would seriously love to slap the taste out of his mouth for that.
2 - Mac Diva
Wilson has to switch it around so that Ol' Strom emerges blameless, Barger. So, the woman's paternity somehow becomes her fault. And, she is being an uppity you-know-what for speaking out about it -- when she is nearly 80. Weird, but that is how those guys think.
It was serendipity that Earl has written a piece about his granddaughters' other grand -- Strom Thurmond. That really brings the truth home. As long as their are descendants of the old goat, some of them will be wearing what he and his followers consider the 'wrong' color.
Thurmond's manipulativeness was amazing. He gave Ms. Essie just enough attention to keep her from waking up and smelling something nasty while he was alive. Any less, and she might have spoken out. Any more, and the 'mystery' might have been confirmed by those watching him. He was very smart in his own twisted way.
3 - eddie corbett jr
talk about hypocrisy, anybody remember sen.bryd, sen. friz hollings,sen. al gore sr. etc. etc. no one ever mentions that bill clintons political mentor ( i forget the senators name) was a devout racist. this type of claimed hypocrisy is killing the lefts credibility.
4 - Mac Diva
Seems to me that the hypocrisy of the Southern oligarchy has a lot more impact on the GOP since the Southern Strategy has made the white South Republican.
And, yes, I am aware of Sen. Byrd's brief membership in the Klan, which he has spent decades regretting and apologizing for. That is a heck of a lot different than going to one's grave without ever apologizing for being a racist or acknowledging one's child, as Strom Thurmond did.