Essie Mae Washington-Williams, 1925-2013.

Essie Mae Washington-Williams died on Monday. She was 87. And you can read her obituary here:obituary

She was the daughter of arch-racist Strom Thurmond--America's longest-serving Senator at the time of his death--and the Thurmond family's maid. The maid, Ms. Washington-Williams' mother was 15 when she gave birth.

He rewarded her, through intermediaries, $200. I assume for services rendered.

In 1948, Ms. Washington-Williams' mother died and Strom Thurmond, then Governor of South Carolina, ran for President as a "Dixiecrat." He carried five states and won more than one-million votes. He said at the time “All the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes...”

I like reading stories like this. 

Stories of colossal hypocrisy and sin.

They make me think advertising isn't so bad.