An Interview with the Queen of my Family
My mother turned the age of 86 years old. I went to visit her and brought her a present and a card, but to change things up a little I asked her for an interview for my blog. She agreed and opened up to me in ways she never has. It caught me off guard so much I forgot many of my questions and couldn’t find my list of question. As a corrections officer you learn to adapt to a situation and be creative. So I winged it. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Q: What year were you born?
A: 1924
Q: Tell me one thing you remember about Grandpa and Grandma Jackson?
A: Well, me and Sis would call Daddy Santa Clause, because he would always bring us something, (smile). He passed away in a house fire when I was six and Sis was three. I don’t remember too much about Momma because she died in a car wreck when I was younger than six. Oh, Daddy used to sit out by his shed and just watch people move throughout the neighborhood.
Q: After Grandpa and Grandma passed away is this when you moved to Olathe with Grandma Beechem and Aunt Willa (Big Mamma)?
A: Yes.
Q: What was school like?
A: I went to an all black grade school, Lincoln Elementary until 9th grade. Only a few of us went on with school, maybe 3 or 4. The rest of the children went to work or stopped going to school.
Q: What were your favorite Subjects?
A: I liked them all. I’ll tell you one thing, students didn’t talk back to the teachers because you would get punished at school and when you got home, good Lord!
Q: How did the students treat you? I read an article from the newspaper stating you had for graduated at the top of your class. It said a few of the white students had given you some money. You should have been valedictorian right, never mind I forgot what year it was.
A: Yes it was 1941, the students didn’t bother us too much.
Q: What did you do after high school?
A: I went to Pittsburgh State University for a year.
Q: Why only a year?
A: I couldn’t handle the pressure of the prejudice, from the professors, students and community.
Q: What did you do after that?
A: Our country was at war so I worked in the Sunflower Plant.
Q: What did you guys make there and were you hoping for better living conditions, being an equal in society?
A: Well, I have no idea what we made in the plant. They told us to put this on that and put in there etc. and we did it. Of course were hoping this would give us more equality when the war was over, but it didn’t happen.
Q: After the war what did you do?
A: I cleaned houses for Mrs. Ann’s.
Q: Mrs. Ann’s?
A: Well, with a chuckle, Sis and I would help Bigma clean houses and we called all the women of the house Mrs. Ann’s. (I laughed)
Q: When the Civil Rights Movement began what did you think of the young Dr. King?
A. He was the right man for the job. He brought the world into the crimes being bestowed on us. We only wanted to live and not be second or third class citizens.
Q: Did you know Daddy before the Civil Rights Movement?
A: Yes, but he was younger than Ada (Daddy’s sister) and I didn’t pay any attention to him cause we were doing our thang. (She laughed)
Q: I know we didn’t delve into all of the wrong treatment you were subject to and I know there were many instances. Your generation and the generation after yours have documented reasons to have issues with white people. You raised nine children, why didn’t you pass on some hatred, mistrust or revenge for treatment to us?
A: Without hesitation this beautiful woman said: “The good Lord made us all!”
This is why I treat people the way I do. Many people may think it is a front, but I treat people the way I want to be treated. My mother is my hero, roll model and the gauge I use to judge the success of my life. With all of her wisdom every person deserves a chance. I will never prejudge anyone and honestly it’s not my place to judge any way. So I believe everyone should take some time out and speak to your elder statesman/woman of your family, maybe, just maybe we may all learn something to pass on to this new generation. If not they will be forever lost.
I’m jus sayin
What a fabulous thing for you two to share before it was too late. She made a great point too. I know we can learn from our elders in our community too, besides just family. We can learn a lot from them and hopefully not repeat the mistakes many in our nation’s past did that needs to be corrected. Smart woman, your mom. Treasure all those memories and don’t forget to share them with your children or have your children come in and listen and learn.
This is great, we learn alot when we sit down & just listen. I wish I had done this with my grandfather before his alzheimers set in, we can certainley learn alot from those who have lived longer & experienced things we can’t even imagine. And I so agree with what she said about treating people the way we want to be treated. She took what her mother taught her & put them to work in her own life and has passed this down to you. It is your job now to pass those beliefs onto yours. Great stuff! I vote for interview part 2.
What a great post. Ur mom sounds like a very wise lady. Cherish all your memories with her.
Good job, KB!
Love it!
That photo of Mom with the photo in the corner looks like you huh? That’s your cousin.
Yes, Keith, our Mother has a lot of knowledge to share. When I spoke to her on her birthday she was still beaming from spending the time with you.
There is more to the story of what happened to her Dad and I will tell you that later. I remember I had asked her how she made it through those times. She told me that she always knew that it wasn’t going to stay that way. Talk about HOPE and FAITH in operation… We are truly blessed.
Great interview, full of wisdom! It is crazy to think that some students stopped going to school after the 9th grade. I can’t imagine how that would be, in today’s society.
Hey there,
What’s even more crazy is they were not required to go further because of the times. You have to remember this would have been around 1934-35. African americans were not required to attend school. I was hoping some one would pick up on the fact Mom graduated early and number one in her class. The drop out rate now is worse than ever and they are required to attend school.
KB
Hi Keith,
Thanks for sharing your interview with your mother. She sounds like a special lady. We should all follow your lead and interview those we love to learn more about their lives so we can emulate their good qualites and adopt their attitudes. I love her response–”The good Lord made us all!” What a strong and wise women!