Mary Williams (activist) facts for kids

Mary Luana Williams, born on October 13, 1967, is an American activist and writer. She is well-known for her book, The Lost Daughter: A Memoir. This book shares her life story, including being adopted by Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden when she was a teenager. It also talks about her early life with her birth parents, who were part of the Black Panthers. Mary Williams helps refugees from Sudan through an organization she started called the Lost Boys Foundation.

Mary Williams' Early Life

Mary Luana Williams, also known as "Lulu," was born on October 13, 1967, in East Oakland, California. 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 find jobs, get an education, and access healthcare.

Her family lived in East Oakland, California, during a time of big changes in the United States. This included the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. Mary's father, Randy, was a leader in the Black Panthers. He took part in patrols where members would watch police officers. They were ready to help if they saw Black people being treated unfairly.

In April 1970, when Mary was four years old, her father was arrested. He was later sentenced to prison. This left her mother to care for Mary and her five brothers and sisters. Mary and her siblings later attended Laurel Springs Children’s Camp. This camp was started by Jane Fonda. Mary got to know Jane Fonda at the camp and kept returning each summer.

When Mary was 14, she wanted to become an actor. She went to an "open casting call" at a theater director's house. After a difficult experience, she felt confused and alone. The next summer, she returned to Laurel Springs Children’s Camp. She eventually told the counselors what had happened. They shared this information with Jane Fonda. Jane had a long talk with Mary. She promised Mary that if she worked hard on her grades, she could come live with her. Mary felt hopeful. She said, "Jane’s proposal renewed my interest in school. She threw me a lifeline and I grabbed it." In 1982, Mary moved in with Jane Fonda at her home in Santa Monica, California.

Becoming Part of the Family

Mary's adoption into Jane Fonda's family happened naturally. There were no formal discussions about it. Troy Garity, Jane Fonda's son, said that Mary "just sort of came down [to live with us] and it was fine and happy for me."

No official adoption papers were signed. With her birth mother's blessing, Mary lived with Jane Fonda through her teenage years and into young adulthood. She was raised alongside Jane's children, Vanessa Vadim and Troy. Everyone felt she was truly part of the family. It took some time for Mary to get used to the famous world Jane Fonda lived in. Mary went to parties with many well-known people. These included Robert De Niro, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Desmond Tutu.

Mary Williams' Work and Books

Mary Williams worked as a fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee. This group helps people around the world. When she saw refugees from Sudan, she felt a strong desire to help them. In 2001, she left her job to work more closely with Sudanese refugees through her own organization.

She started the Lost Boys Foundation. This group helps the Lost Boys of Sudan. These are young men who were forced to leave their homes because of the Second Sudanese Civil War. Mary encouraged writer Dave Eggers to talk to Valentino Achak Deng. He was a Sudanese refugee and part of the Lost Boys Foundation program. Their talks led to a book called What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, published in 2006. Mary Williams 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 and came out in 2005.

In 2013, Mary Williams wrote The Lost Daughter: A Memoir. This book tells her life story, focusing on her experiences with both her birth family and her adoptive family. Kirkus Reviews described the book as "A tender memoir of love and redemption." They also called it "A compassionate tale of soul-searching and family love."

Mary Williams supported Barack Obama when he ran for President of the United States in 2012. She wrote that she was happy to see a Black man in the White House. She also said her political beliefs were about more than just race. She worried about protecting natural places. She stated, "I’m voting for Obama in November because we have too much to lose."