List Based On Books Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
Title | : | Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond |
Author | : | Essie Mae Washington-Williams |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 240 pages |
Published | : | January 24th 2006 by Harper Perennial (first published January 25th 2005) |
Categories | : | Nonfiction. History. Biography. Autobiography. Memoir. Cultural. African American |

Essie Mae Washington-Williams
Paperback | Pages: 240 pages Rating: 3.9 | 724 Users | 93 Reviews
Rendition As Books Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
Breaking nearly eight decades of silence, Essie Mae Washington–Williams comes forward with a story of unique historical magnitude and incredible human drama. Her father, the late Strom Thurmond, was once the nation's leading voice for racial segregation (one of his signature political achievements was his 24–hour filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, done in the name of saving the South from "mongrelization"). Her mother, however, was a black teenager named Carrie Butler who worked as a maid on the Thurmond family's South Carolina plantation.Set against the explosively changing times of the civil rights movement, this poignant memoir recalls how she struggled with the discrepancy between the father she knew–one who was financially generous, supportive of her education, even affectionate–and the Old Southern politician, railing against greater racial equality, who refused to acknowledge her publicly. From her richly told narrative, as well as the letters she and Thurmond wrote to each other over the years, emerges a nuanced, fascinating portrait of a father who counseled his daughter about her dreams and goals, and supported her in reaching them–but who was unwilling to break with the values of his Dixiecrat constituents.
With elegance, dignity, and candor, Washington–Williams gives us a chapter of American history as it has never been written before–told in a voice that will be heard and cherished by future generations.
Itemize Books During Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
Original Title: | Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond |
ISBN: | 0060761423 (ISBN13: 9780060761424) |
Edition Language: | English |
Rating Based On Books Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
Ratings: 3.9 From 724 Users | 93 ReviewsAssess Based On Books Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond
This book is Essie Maes story and a living historic chronicle of the life and times intertwined with her real life situation. Williams's story can be viewed as a tragedy of the American south with its unenlightened prejudices and hypocrisies; but it also can be viewed as a story of family ties, of love and honor. Her restraint and respect for her father in an ugly period of our history--one that included segregation, racism and Jim Crow is incredible, which help to mitigate the harsh realitiesThis book surprised me by keeping my interest. I found myself feeling good and bad for Essie. Shocked about thurmond but still not "feeling" any of his actions. I would say I like this book more because she gave me a deep look at history in South Carolina which somewhat explains the actions today. When she quoted " she is every much as white as she is black" I loved that. It's true even though the world viewed her as black as with all biracial children. She didn't struggle with identity crisis.
Hmmm. On the one hand, this book has some relevance as a memoir and an historical document. Incidents such as the one involving Strom Thurmond and Carrie Butler were not uncommon across the South, and there were/are many like the author who were/are either the results of such unions, or have heard stories about such. The fact that she is bringing the events of her life to prominence is notable in itself. However, her reaction to and attitude concerning these events are problematic, and this is

Hmmm. On the one hand, this book has some relevance as a memoir and an historical document. Incidents such as the one involving Strom Thurmond and Carrie Butler were not uncommon across the South, and there were/are many like the author who were/are either the results of such unions, or have heard stories about such. The fact that she is bringing the events of her life to prominence is notable in itself. However, her reaction to and attitude concerning these events are problematic, and this is
Wow! This lady has done her research on South Carolina history and made her story of being the rather unacknowledged daughter of former Senator Strom Thurmond a winner. Race relations would be improved if everyone read this book.
Essie Mae Washington-Williams' courageous memoir is as powerful as it is emotional. What made this a phenomenal read is that Mrs. Williams raises the same questions most of us would raise, yet she is dignified and on some level, seems to share an understanding with her now-late father. Although the two never did forge a traditional father-daughter relationship, the history and intricacies of her story are a priceless addition to the historical achieves of the United States in general.Her life is
Many would likely take Essie Mae's husband's side regarding how she kept secret her relationship to Sen. Strom Thurmond, given the senator's political stance. But she relates her story and experience in a way that helped me appreciate the very emotionally and culturally complex situation she was in. It cannot have been easy to be relegated to the sidelines as your biological father ascended the political ladder to greater heights ("greater" in the sense of going beyond being a small-town lawyer,
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.