Vanessa Williams Recalls Receiving Hate Mail and Death Threats

Anderson Team

Vanessa Williams, who was crowned the first African-American Miss America in 1983, recalls receiving hate mail and death threats because she was black.



Williams' mother, Helen, tells Anderson, "We received death threats saying, 'We're gonna come and chop your head off,' 'We're going to meet your daughter someplace, and you know, deform her in some way'… all because of the color of her skin."

Vanessa and Helen, who co-wrote Vanessa's memoir, "You Have No Idea," go on to say the threats and hate mail surprised them.

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