That raises troubling concerns for me. The girls are 8 and 2 years old, and I don't want them exposed to the public rancor and bitterness that has raged between the black and white descendants of Thomas Jefferson. But they need to know the truth about their heritage. It's well known or strongly suspected that a slew of prominent, wealthy and politically connected Southern slave masters - and that almost certainly included Jefferson - kept black mistresses, fathered black children, and even supported them.
. . .Despite much talk that Thurmond did a racial mea culpa in the latter days of his political reign, he still remained a die-hard conservative. His voting record was pro-defense and anti-government social programs. In his final campaign for his eighth Senate term in 1996, he ranted against the "the 40-year wrongs of liberalism."
Thurmond helped ensure that the Republicans would be major players for decades to come in national politics. Bush and the Republicans owe Ol' Strom an eternal debt of gratitude. That's not the debt that my granddaughters owe their presumed great-great grandfather. However, when they're old enough to understand I'll talk candidly with them about the racially indelible political stamp that he put on the nation.
Thurmond never really repudiated his long history as a segregationist. He just stopped discussing the topic and extended his reputation for constituent services to include African-Americans in his district during the 1980s. By then, as Hutchinson observes, Thurmond's inprint on race relations in the country had become indelible.
Note: This entry also appeared at Silver Rights.
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.