For Thurmond, Contradictions Covered by Silence

This “Jabari Asim” character sounds jealous. This myth that all “miscegenation” involving “whites” males was “rape,” doesn’t hide the jealousy “black” males feel when “white” males are preferred as sexual partners.

For Thurmond, Contradictions Covered by Silence
by Jabari Asim
The Washington Post
Monday, December 22, 2003; 10:24 AM

Before he rose to fame and influence as the avatar of Jim Crow, Thurmond was a teacher and scion of Edgefield, S.C.’s most powerful family. While living with his parents, the 22-year-old impregnated Carrie Butler, the Thurmonds’ black maid. She was 16 when she gave birth to Essie Mae on Oct. 12, 1925. Butler introduced Thurmond to his daughter when Essie Mae was 16. Butler died soon after.

Thurmond could very well have wooed Butler with flowers, candy and soft promises of devotion. On the other hand, he may have felt that the romantic approach was completely unnecessary, which brings me back to droit du seigneur. The French phrase dates back to the feudal age and refers to the presumed right of the feudal lord to have sexual relations with the bride of a vassal on her wedding night. It’s no secret that white Southern men — and not just wealthy ones –for centuries followed similar assumptions regarding the black women in their midst.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *