Dear Senator : A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond

Rating:
Summary: An Important Document
Review: As a Black South Carolinian myself, I would certainly love to sit down and chat with Mrs. Washington-Williams after reading this.

Anyone who was born out of wedlock, adopted, and had an ambiguous or contentious relationship with their biological father, as was the case with myself, can truly say A-MEN and indentify with the pain she describes of not being openly acknowledged by one's biological father. She does an excellent job of articulating what it's like to be in that situation and people who could identify with this will find this aspect of the book almost theraputic.

The book is great with South Carolina history. She does a good job of detailing South Carolina's dark and racist past, and it's amazing to know that her bloodline contains some of the most infamous enemies to Black people that SC has ever known (Matthew C. Butler who led a masacre of 40 Blacks in Hamburg SC in 1876, William Thurmond, Strom's dad, who masterminded the career of the pro-lynching Senator Ben Tillman who also disfranchised and Jim-crowed Blacks in SC, etc. etc.). Strom Thurmond was Abraham Lincoln compared to these guys, and Mrs. Washington-Williams makes no apologies for these characters.

Having met Strom once in 1991 myself, I can attest to what she says about Strom Thurmond's two-sidedness in his relationship with African-Americans. An uncle of mine worked for him, and even Blacks who (rightfully) detested him as I did found him strangely likeable and charming in person. But while she finds it difficult to express her ambivalence about their relationship and his refusal to publicly acknowledge her in spite fo his personal kindness, she learns not to hold back on her disgust of his public statements and policies toward African-Americans. He seemed genuinely shocked to hear his daughter say "Black people HATE you, Senator!" as if he was not accustomed to having blacks speak to him with such frankness.

There is one moment that I had to question in this book. As a South Carolina historian, I read with amusement as she described seeing the Confederate Flag flying above the State House in Columbia in 1941. Fack is folks, that flag was not put up there until 1962. But that's a minor detail.

In either case, the concluding chapter in which she sums up her views about her heritage and race relations will sound like anathema to some and will be cheered by others. Even if you disagree with her on some points, she clearly explains in her story how she come to such conclusions.

So for an important document on a seldom-discussed aspect of some of the most hypocritical factors of the Jim Crow era and as an articulation of the pain that could be caused by out of wedlock births to fathers whose emotional support is lacking, I speak with pride of Mrs. Washington Williams as my fellow South Carolinian, fellow American, and fellow human being.

If she's ever in Charleston, I'll be sure to get my copy autographed.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Memoir By Senator Thurmond's Daughter
Review: The author has written a wonderful memoir about her life in the segregated South and of her life as the black daughter of Senator Thurmond who was also the governor of South Carolina and who ran for President of the USA. Thurmond never did acknowledge his daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williama, publically. The author was willing to and did keep Thurmond's secret private.

Essie Mae had a limited relationship with Thurmond. But she said that the relationship was meaningful to her. She hopes that the book will allow people to see both sides Senator Strom Thurmond. If you wish to learn more about the book and the author there is an author event available on C-Span2 Book TV.

Rating:
Summary: Dear Senator
Review: This book is an important and fascinating read on the issue of race in American culture; I believe it raise an important point of authentic dialouge on race as opposed to the failed practice of secrecy and silent complicity. Ms. Washington-Williams (with generous support from her children) bravely tells a story that would have otherwise died with the late Senator Thurmond. However contentious the discussion of race may be, it is a discussion that is long overdue and needs to be candid. This book provides an avenue for this discussion.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely amazing.
Review: This is by far one of the best books that I have ever read. This book is not only personal but very factual. Being a fan of American history, I felt compelled to read this book in a day. Essie Mae puts raw emotion into this book and I felt this as I read. She is a very poised, mature individual that never let her father's secret go. I am happy to say this book taught me a thing or two about myself and intrigued me to no end.