Mary Williams (activist) facts for kids

Mary Luana Williams (born October 13, 1967) is an American author and activist. She wrote a book called The Lost Daughter: A Memoir about her life story. This book shares details about her childhood and how she was adopted by famous actress Jane Fonda and activist Tom Hayden. Mary also works to help refugees from Sudan through an organization she started called the Lost Boys Foundation.

Mary Williams's Childhood

Mary Luana "Lulu" Williams was born on October 13, 1967. She was the fifth daughter of Randy and Mary Williams. Both of her parents were members of the Black Panther Party. This group worked to stop unfair treatment of African Americans by police. They also helped African Americans who needed jobs, education, and healthcare.

Growing Up in Oakland

Mary's family lived in East Oakland, California, which was a busy place for the Black Panther movement. This was during the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Mary later described this time as "violent and frenzied." Her father, Randy, was a leader in the Panthers. He was part of a group that watched police patrols. They wanted to protect Black people if they saw them being threatened.

When Mary was four, her father was arrested after a difficult situation with police. He was sent to prison for seven years. Mary's mother was left to care for Mary and her five siblings. Life became very hard for the family.

Finding a New Home

Later, one of Mary's siblings ran away. Mary and her other siblings went to Laurel Springs Children’s Camp. This camp was started by Jane Fonda. It was located near Santa Barbara, California. Mary got to know Jane Fonda well at the camp. She kept going back to the camp each summer, even when her siblings didn't.

When Mary was 14, she dreamed of becoming an actor. She went to an "open casting call" in Oakland. The next summer, Jane Fonda had a long talk with Mary. Jane offered Mary a chance to live with her if Mary worked hard on her grades. Mary said this offer gave her hope and helped her focus on school again. In 1982, Mary moved into Jane Fonda's home in Santa Monica, California.

Becoming Part of a New Family

Mary's move to Jane Fonda's home happened naturally. There wasn't a formal adoption process. Troy Garity, Jane Fonda's son, said Mary just "sort of came down [to live with us]." He was happy to have an older sibling he connected with.

Mary's mother agreed to the arrangement. Mary lived with Jane Fonda throughout her teenage years and into young adulthood. Everyone in the family felt she was truly one of their own children. It took Mary some time to get used to the wealthy lifestyle of Jane Fonda's world. She met many famous people at parties, like Robert De Niro and Oprah Winfrey.

Her Book: The Lost Daughter

Mary Williams wrote her book, The Lost Daughter: A Memoir, about her experiences. It focuses on growing up with two different families. Kirkus Reviews called her book "A tender memoir of love and redemption." They also described it as "A compassionate tale of soul-searching and family love."

Helping Others

Mary Williams worked as a fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta, GA. She saw refugees arriving from Sudan and felt a strong desire to help them. In 2001, she left her job at IRC to work more closely with Sudanese refugees.

Supporting Refugees

Mary founded the Lost Boys Foundation. This group helps the Lost Boys of Sudan. These are young people who were forced to leave their homes because of wars and conflict in Sudan. Mary encouraged writer Dave Eggers to talk to Valentino Achak Deng. Valentino was a Sudanese refugee and part of the Lost Boys Foundation program. Their conversations led to a book called What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng.

Mary also wrote her own children's book about the Lost Boys of Sudan. It is called Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan. This book was published in 2005.

Activism for Change

Mary Williams supported Barack Obama when he was running for President of the United States in 2012. She wrote that she was happy to see a Black man in the White House. But she also said her reasons for voting were deeper. She worried about protecting the environment. She voted for Obama because she felt there was "too much to lose" if others were in charge.