The C.O.W.S. Essie Mae Washington-Williams’ Dear Senator Part 8 #DirtyOldWhiteMan

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Thursday, May 5th 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific

The Context of White Supremacy hosts the 8th study session on Essie Mae Washington-Williams’ Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of J. Strom Thurmond. We’re nearly done with the book, and Gus must admit, this is likely the saddest books he’s ever read. Essie Mae’s confusion and father hunger for a child raping White Supremacist is… a sorrow-filled existence. Additionally, the lynchings and gender-specific targeting of black males are such traumatic, constant events in Essie Mae’s life, readers can mark time by tracking black male corpses. Last week, Essie Mae detailed the ongoing challenges her husband Julius faced. He was unable to find employment or paying clients as a licensed attorney, when he was employed, he was not promoted, and his wife concealed large cash payments from her White Supremacist “father.” He started drinking. Essie Mae’s “second mother” Mary died at a young age leaving her with no family other than “Ol’ Strom.” She, her husband and children moved back and forth across the country to find work and better quality life in the 1960’s. Essie Mae said the Racism in California is “less obvious.” Although her husband found job-hunting disappointing and promotions unobtainable here too. She also mentioned the Savannah River Site, a bomb making plant in South Carolina. She neglected to mention this is one of the most toxic regions in the world. And… Whites ejected a large number of black residents to build this facility, refused to promote black employees, and subjected black workers to contaminated areas without proper safety equipment. Thurmond helped secure the land for this nuclear facility.