I must say, this whole month, since June 1st, I've learned so much about African American women! I really appreciate my professor, Dionne Bailey, for being driven to make this class available to a striving student like me. Often times, you never hear of a class of "just about women". Most times when you hear about women in history, especially African American women in particular, is mostly about slavery and taking care of the home. This class has really inspired me and uplifted me to press against negative stereotypes, challenge myself, to speak up, and to strive to be an "SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL UPLIFTING AFRICAN AMERICAN PHENOMENAL WOMAN", to be proud, but yet humble. I've really enjoyed taking this course, but just like any good thing, eventually it comes to an end, but the class will always stick with me in spirit, to be like Ida B. Wells, speaking up, to be like Helga Crane, but rather chasing and engaging in education, and to be like Janie and "live". Good luck to all my fellow classmates also taking this course to accomplish every goal they set out to reach! (:
The quiet and humble, Camisha S. Johnson :)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Oral Interview with my Mother, Henrietta Henderson
2. Where were you born? Sardis, MS
3. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Batesville, MS with my parents.
4. What were your parents names and occupations? My mother was Marie Tucker, and my father was Henry Kearney.
5. Do you have any siblings? Yes, I have 22 other siblings —12 of which are still living and they are: Sadie, Margaret, Cedell, Rose, Rilla, Bernice, Earnice, Hugh, William, Caroline, Valarie, and myself.
6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in _________? Growing up in the 70s wasn’t so bad. My father worked a lot; my mother stayed home. I can remember every evening when we got home. She always had our dinner ready. My dad loved biscuits; so, we ate a lot of biscuits. I didn’t mind. I was a daddy’s girl. I went everywhere he went—his shadow. When he went to Joseph Jones Café, I was right there. When he shot pool, I shot pool. I wasn’t good though, but my dad could call them pockets and hit them every time. He gave me the nickname “Short” but it sounded like “shout”. And yes, I was name after him, Henry with the “etta” on the end for a girl. All his friends called him “Hen Kearney.” So, I was proud to be called “Hen” and I still am. I Love it because it’s a part of him. I remember he died when I was in the seventh grade. I was thirteen years old. I had been around my mother, but most days I was with my dad. So, after he passed I was lost; my mother really stepped up and really helped me a lot. We really bonded for life. She became my best friend, and one I could confide in. It wasn’t that she was never there; she always was, but I realize now that God knew my father was not going to be with us long; so, the time I spent with him made up for the time I would lose.
7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain? Oh my goodness, yes. I can remember in the third grade. I will never forget it. We had been watching roots. They had a series going on and each night a different episode would come on. So, I was already upset after watching that. A day or so afterwards, I went to school playing on the playground minding my business; this girl (S.T) which was white called me the “N” word. I beat the stew out of her. The teacher sent us to the office and I told them what happened. They said I had no business touching her, and they sent me home for a couple of days. They did nothing to her, but from then on she had the upmost respect for me. Another incident is a story my mother told me was about my father being put in jail because his shirt tail was hanging out.
8. What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the North/South? I do not feel that any privileges were given to me. Everything I have, I have worked hard for with the help of the Lord. The only setback I had was when I graduated high school and came to this college on a full scholarship; I really didn’t seize the opportunity. It was still a lot of prejudice in 1990. I stayed on campus, but still went home almost every day. In high school, everyone knew me. When I got to college, I sort of felt lost within the masses of people.
9. What, if anything, do you remember your parents telling you about race? My mother always told me that I was just as good as the next person whether they were black, red, green, or purple. It’s what you think about yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t somebody because I was.
10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman? My mom always told me to have respect for myself and other will respect me. She told me that black women were stigmatized as being “bare-footed and pregnant.” Don’t let that be part of me.
11. Did you attend school? Yes, I attended South Panola Schools and graduated with honors. I graduated 26th of 242 students. So, I think I did pretty good.
12. Did you get married? Yes, I was married to Michael Galmore. We were young, and he had issues that I did not want to deal with that for the rest of my life. I realized at had made a terrible mistake by not listening to my mother. She had told me that he was not the one for me. I grew up in the church, and we were raised different. So, she already knew what the outcome was going to be. After about six years and four children, I met a wonderful man, Andra Henderson in 1994. I was working as a secretary at the time, and he worked in the factory. Every time I had to bring over a work order, I saw him looking. He was always so nice and cordial. So, one day I walked over and I didn’t see him. So, I walked through the plant. As I walked down the aisle, I saw him peeping over the machines. What happened next was too funny; although, at the time it scared me. While he was peeping, his jacket got caught in a machine. It was pulling him into it. Oh my, I froze. Everybody ran over trying to get his jacket out, and finally someone shut off the machine. We been inseparable every since, and that has been seventeen years ago. He is now an ordained minister in the church, and a commercial driver for Coca Cola Bottling Co for over 15 years. He’s not only my husband, but my best friend.
13. What were their relationships like with other women? In high school, I had a lot of white friends and black friends. It was when I went to college that I realized there was a difference, and people treated us differently. I currently work with white and black women, and there is still a difference. Hate to admit it, but it is. Simple as that!
14. What type of relationship do you have with black men? I am use to being around black men. I guess it from being around my father so much. Quite frankly, I’d rather work with men—less drama. I must say that it’s not just black women; it’s all women!
15. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and inside of the home should be? Well, you know me. I have to go with what the bible says. It is our job to take care of our home, children, and our husband. That is the way God intended it to be. It is the man’s job to provide for the home—bringing the bread home—as we say. I know that I work outside the home, but my first priority is the home. My home, children, or my husband should not go lacking for anything.
16. What do you think about people dating outside of their race? I’m not old school. So, it doesn’t matter to me. God made everybody. Like my mom use to say, “Anybody can put up a front, but one day that gorilla suit got to come off.” So, it is all about the person’s character, upbringing, and don’t forget the “credit.” When you make up your mind to be with someone for the rest of your life, it should be taken seriously. You don’t want anybody that will have you miserable, busted, and disgusted. You want that time to be enjoyable. If his credit is tore up and he don’t have plans to improve it, move on my sister!
17. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today? Issues today that affect black Americans are: (1) We take things for granted, (2) Our forefathers fought for all these privileges that we are enjoying today. It may not be all we want, but it is definitely better. (3) Black on Black crimes – we are killing ourselves. KKK no longer has to exist (even though they still do), we are doing it for them. (4) We have a problem of not working together – I believe we could be so much farther if we take note from ants—they work together. Everyone of us have a God-given talent that is different from the next person. We do not have to kill each other (by words or actions) to make it to our goals. AND my my (5) Don’t forget where YOU came from!! Too many of us forget. Thank God he brought you out, but don’t forget!! Umm. Umm. Umm. That’s all I have to day, Don’t forget! Try to help somebody else. My mind reflects on the scripture where it talks about the rich man and the poor man. The rich man had a chance to help the poor man, Lazarus. He was too caught up in his own selfish ways. But you know what the bible said, “when Lazarus died, he was in Abraham’s bosom… But oh when the rich man died, the bible says “in HELL he lifted up his eyes!” So, that’s all. Don’t forget!!!!
Documentary on Rape
Today we viewed a number of documentaries on rape! I know a lot about rape, but some things really stuck out to me, mainly the misinterpretations/misconceptions about rape such as:
-Black women love rough sex, so therefore, they can't be "raped".
-Black men are the main rapists.
-Most rapes are false accusations.
-The saying "She doesn't act like she was raped."
-Most rapes are done by people you dont know.
-They saying "What were you doing there? You asked for it."
I can name quite a few of these misconceptions but these few really stuck out to me! Also, there was a documentary on how religion played in rapes, mainly Islamic, how the women are to be subjective and obedient, often seen as property, rather than partner.
-Black women love rough sex, so therefore, they can't be "raped".
-Black men are the main rapists.
-Most rapes are false accusations.
-The saying "She doesn't act like she was raped."
-Most rapes are done by people you dont know.
-They saying "What were you doing there? You asked for it."
I can name quite a few of these misconceptions but these few really stuck out to me! Also, there was a documentary on how religion played in rapes, mainly Islamic, how the women are to be subjective and obedient, often seen as property, rather than partner.
Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas
In my opinion on the Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas debate, me being a female and knowing some of the factors and hardships of what she felt, I feel that rape is rape and no matter when you tell it, how you tell, and where you say it, justice should be served! I say that Hill was right in testifying against Clarence Thomas because she had a right to speak about what had happened. I feel that she may have did a little “too much”, but what’s done is done. As we say in class “it is what it is!” Thomas being elected to the supreme court was very ironic, in my opinion, and it shows that justice was not served and he was not being punished for his actions.
Women and Civil Rights
Women played a great part in the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. For example, Rosa Parks started the movement on December 1, 1955. Women were mostly as “the men” when it came to this civil rights movement and so forth. Often, the women were called “feminists” for what they were doing. Women were very active, which was said they had to do, according to Beale. For example, Ida B. Wells called out Martin Luther King, Jr. because he was talking about something he knew nothing of. Woe was Fannie Lou Hamer! She was one courageous fed-up black woman. In an article we read about her, she spoke up and let her feelings out towards issues. She was basically saying she was fed up about how she, as a woman, was to feel "lower" than a white woman, and she wanted everyone to be on the same level, no upper class, middle class, white, black, woman, man, etc. I really admired her in this article because she had to be real bold to actually speak up and say the words that she said! She said that she wasn't fighting for equality nor to be liberated, but rather recognized just like any other person in the world, rather than a black woman being at the bottom of the chain. In my opinion, she wasn't really bashing or putting down others, but rather speaking her mind and telling the truth about things that people were afraid to say. This whole article to me basically tells me that in the end, we're all human beings trying to make a living, so why can't we just be that? [human beings making a living with no hierarchy.] It was hard for the black women to align themselves with the Women’s Lib because they didn’t want to do all that working and in the end, getting no credit for what they’ve done, according to Morrison.
Harlem!!
Harlem Renaissance was the time, period, and place where blacks expressed their thoughts through writng, poetry, jazz, paintings, and so forth. The significance of this movement was as an uplift, in my opinion, and to give blacks a “voice” and to be heard for their creativity. The Renaissance was an integral aspect of the New Negro Movement because this was the first time where blacks were basically being heard and being known for their artistic work and thinking, something positive, and something to call their own. Harlem played a major part in the Renaissance because it took place there, mainly were a lot of the blacks migrated to. Becoming a teacher, nurse, or social worker-idea was not only to have black women work because they had working; rather it was about what that work was and would do-support a push toward race motherhood. During this time, women had a new sense of career, money, birth control, and education, anything a man can do, a woman can do. McDougald’s work mainly was to uplift the negro woman, saying basically that a woman has an opportunity to measure her powers in the intellectual fields of Harlem.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration was a period in when blacks migrated North to escape the hardships, economic oppressions, and unusual cruel punishments to create better lives for themselves and their families. The African American women wanted to work in the day and to be with their families after. They felt vulnerable to white men if they had to stay as live-ins. Migrating North, black women found jobs as domestic servants or washerwomen. Their work was difficult, low-paying, and often dangerous! Their lives were basically the a little better, only excluding the oppression and the white men, but other than that, it was the same. In my opinion, I think the Great Migration was literally their only choice that they had. There was no other options, unless death.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)