The secret bi-racial daughter of Sen. Strom Thurmond died yesterday. Essie Mae Washington-Williams was 87 years old. For more than 70 years, Strom kept her a secret from the world.
The reason, well, Strom was a racist and a segregationist. He had an affair with his maid and then... You know. He realized that his child could ruin his political career.
This secret didn't come to a head until he died in 2003. But anyway, back to Essie Mae.
She was a school teacher here in Los Angeles for many years. She moved back to South Carolina in her last years. Essie died of natural causes.
Rest in Peace
This is sad news. Actually, my grandmother knew Ms. Washington when she was younger. I never met her, but according to Gram, she was a very nice person.
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