Woman Claims Thurmond As Father -- Proof Forthcoming, Black Retiree Says

The Washington Post ^ | December 14, 2003 | Marilyn W. Thompson

[aculeus]

A 78-year-old retired Los Angeles schoolteacher said she is breaking a lifetime of silence to announce that she is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of former U.S. senator James Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), once the nation's leading segregationist. In an interview, the woman said that Thurmond privately acknowledged her as his daughter and provided financial support since 1941.

Essie Mae Washington-Williams described her claims in a lengthy telephone interview last week, saying she protected Thurmond because of their mutual "deep respect" and her fears that disclosure would embarrass her and harm his political career. Thurmond, who died in June at age 100, said late in life through his office that Williams was a friend.

[George W. Bush]

What's the point? Strom was a honky?

I don't get it.

[JimRic54]

Somebody wants money?

[billorites]

" Strom was a honky?"

So was Thomas Jefferson. Both red-headed honkies.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Bill Clinton is cringing right now.

[Andyman]

I wonder if, after he is passed on, the press will ever refer to Robert KKK Byrd as "once a leading segregationist."

[George W. Bush]

No, the Jefferson bit was disproved. It was one of his relatives that fathered those children of slave women. But, of course, they still include the descendants of that other Jefferson in public ceremonies and pretend they were descended from T.J. anyway.

More P.C. lies. The usual.

[cyncooper]

U.S. senator James Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), once the nation's leading segregationist.

Isn't this a bit of an overstatement?

(Segregation is wrong. I am totally against it. I am not defending Thurmond's ancient view, but I am not aware he was ever defined as "the nation's leading segregationist". I can't wait for the next WaPo article that refers to Robert Byrd. I'm sure they'll remind us of his former activities. Or maybe they'll decide "he changed" and deem it not worthy of mentioning at this late date...)

[doosee]

Washington-Williams

Now that would be a name to put on the back of an NFL jersey. Maybe W-Squared for short... Old Strom got around didnt he?

[AmishDude]

It wasn't actually disproved. We know that the father of at least one of Sally Hemmings' children was either Jefferson, his nephew or his brother (or is it cousin?). Historians have long believed it was the nephew. The history of this accusation and how it keeps being resurrected is fascinating. Of course, these days it's just about Clintonian resurrection and further attempts to denigrate any and all Founding Fathers.

[LS]

Um, not this has not been "disproved." If you look at a recent issue of the William & Mary Quarterly---merely the journal of colonial and early American history---you'll see that the debate is quite hot. I definitely wouldn't say the Sally Hemmings people have won, but they are much closer than they were 20 years ago, and, as best as I can keep up with the developments, without question "a" Jefferson fathered one of the Hemmings kids. The question is, which Jefferson?

[GretchenEE]

the Jefferson bit was disproved. It was one of his relatives that fathered those children of slave women.

Would you direct me to your source, please? I had not heard the disproval.

[petitfour]

The story was not disproved. Historians simply said it was not proved by the DNA. They did acknowledge that several of Hemmings children were Jeffersons. There is just not enough evidence either way.

[ServesURight]

Somebody wants money?

Uh, she already has money, since Strom was providing for her support since '41.

[blam]

"I definitely wouldn't say the Sally Hemmings people have won, but they are much closer than they were 20 years ago, and, as best as I can keep up with the developments, without question "a" Jefferson fathered one of the Hemmings kids. The question is, which Jefferson?"

That's pretty much my take on the situation too. I read a report last week that stated that most African-Americans are 25% Caucasian...someone was doing something way back when.

[Old Professer]

Can one get DNA from dust?

[OldFriend]

It's about MONEY....MONEY.....MONEY.......

[fso301]

That's pretty much my take on the situation too. I read a report last week that stated that most African-Americans are 25% Caucasian...someone was doing something way back when

Anyone looking at a random sampling of American Blacks -vs- a random sampling of West Africans will immediately recognize a significant difference. American Blacks are primarily a mixture of African, Caucasian, Native American and some Hispanic.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

as best as I can keep up with the developments, without question "a" Jefferson fathered one of the Hemmings kids. The question is, which Jefferson?

. . . and as I understand it, the one "Hemmings kid" evidently fathered by a Jefferson was conceived after Thomas Jefferson had returned from Europe--and after TJ been accused of fathering older Hemmings kids. Which charges the DNA tests now indicate were not correct.

And after TJ was older than he had been when he apparently had not been intimate with Hemmings.

One can certainly understand a desire of a decendant of "a" Jefferson to believe him/herself to be a decendant of "the" Jefferson. And the incentive of the race hustlers to promote that view is no less patent.

But IMHO delegitimating the writings of TJ--the Declaration of Independence being chief among them--is a deeply unpatriotic project. But then, it was convenient at the time for x42 . . .

[Sacajaweau]

Either way, the folks made out. Proving or disproving doesn't matter AND everyone knew it from the start.