Lindsey Graham's 2015 autobiography, My Story, offers a revealing look at the late senator's complicated record on race, chronicling his upbringing in the segregated South and his political rise amid enduring racial tensions.
Upbringing in Segregated South Carolina
Graham, born in 1955, grew up in Pickens County, a small textile town in the segregated South. The county was the site of South Carolina's last documented lynching in 1947. In his memoir, Graham recounts convincing his parents, Millie and Florence James "FJ" Graham, to desegregate their popular Sanitary Cafe, allowing Black customers to dine inside for the first time. Previously, the cafe served Black neighbors only through a take-out window. Graham acknowledges this change came "much later than it should have," but notes that white customers initially boycotted the cafe due to entrenched cultural norms.
Political Career and Racial Controversies
Graham entered politics in 1994 as a congressional candidate for South Carolina's third district, relying on an endorsement from Strom Thurmond, a leading segregationist who ran for president in 1948 on a pro-segregation platform. Graham later succeeded Thurmond in the Senate in 2003, inheriting staff and emulating Thurmond's constituent service. Throughout his career, Graham faced scrutiny from Black voters over his commitment to racial justice.
Denial of Systemic Racism
During his 2020 Senate campaign against Jaime Harrison, then-chair of the Democratic National Committee and a Black candidate, Graham denied the existence of systemic racism in the United States, particularly in South Carolina. He claimed minorities, including immigrants, could "go anywhere" in the state if they were conservative. Graham also cited Barack Obama's election as proof that systemic racism did not exist. In a 2021 interview after the Derek Chauvin verdict, Graham told Fox News's Chris Wallace, "Our systems are not racist. America is not a racist country."
Support for Black Jurist and Clash with Colleagues
In 2022, Graham supported South Carolina District Judge J. Michelle Childs, a Black jurist, for a Supreme Court vacancy. Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker labeled Graham's support as "affirmative action," which Graham rejected, arguing the label did not apply to qualified minority candidates like Childs. Childs was ultimately not nominated; President Joe Biden instead nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was confirmed.
Controversy Over COVID-19 Aid to Black Farmers
In 2021, Graham faced criticism from Representative James Clyburn for calling COVID-19 relief aid to Black farmers "reparations." Clyburn told CNN that Graham "ought to be ashamed of himself" and suggested he reconsider his Christian values. Despite their differences, Clyburn paid tribute to Graham after his death, stating on X that they maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect over more than three decades of service together in Congress.
Family and Legacy
Graham's parents died 15 months apart while he was in college, after which he took custody of his teenage sister, Darline. Donald Trump recommended Darline Graham Nordone be appointed as interim senator, calling it "a fabulous tribute to Lindsey." South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster subsequently appointed her to serve the remainder of Graham's term. Graham's memoir, while criticized as political spin, provides insight into the conservative white perspective on the South's enduring racial challenges.
