Interview #1

1. What is your name? Maiden and Marriage (if applicable)

                Katie Vaughn

2. Where were you born?

Winston county Hospital in Louisville MS

3. Where did you grow up?

Louisville, MS

4. What were your parents names and occupations?

Nelly Vaughn and Emmitt Vaughn

5. Do you have any siblings? Yes or No, names?

Yes, I have three brothers and two sisters. I also had a half-sister. Their names are Emmitt, Jean, Doris, Jason, Richard, Bedlu, Abrion

6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in _________?

Growing up as I black girl, I had a great life. Because I suffered from asthma, I did not have to work outside like the rest of my siblings did. I mostly stayed in the house and cooked.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain?

            Throughout my life in Mississippi, I never encountered racism. I pretty much stayed to myself and did not bother other people.

8. What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the

North/South?

Growing up in the South, I did not have any setbacks. I was able to go to school to get an education. Although, black schools and white schools were divided, I still received a great education.

9. What, if anything, do you remember your parents telling you about race?

My parents always taught me to stay away from White folks property and to play on our own land.

10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman?

Growing up, my parents always instilled in me to carry myself like a lady. They always told me that growing up in this world, especially as a black woman, is not easy. I would have to struggle sometimes to get where I want to go. I try to teach my kids the same way.

11. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not?

            Yes, I attended school because I need an education in order to make it in the world. I also had the thoughts that my ancestors had worked so hard for me to be able to get an education and I felt like going to school getting an education, showed that I was very appreciative of what they did.

12. Talk a little bit about those days...

 I remember those days like it was yesterday. I had several friends and we did almost everything together. We went out to clubs, football games, and softball games. When I say club, I don’t mean how you young folks go out and get drunk and get to fighting. When we went to the club, we danced the whole time. There was no arguing, fussing, or fighting. We only had one rule in our house about going out with friends. We had to be home before the street lights came on; otherwise there was a switch waiting on you when you got home.

13. What was it like in school for you as a black female?

Before we were integrated, blacks went to one school and whites went to another. Blacks went to school to Camille while the whites went to another school. We were always hyper and doing something. I remember seeing our band performing every Friday night. They had a different show every Friday. I didn’t have to deal with being called out of my name or males grabbing on me because young men then had respect for the young black women.

14. Did you graduate and attend college? [Ask questions here to get more info regarding education ect.]

I graduated from high school, but I didn’t graduate from college. I never even attended college because I had to take care of my grandmother, so going to college was not an option for me. Back then we didn’t have as much technology as the youth today do.

15. Did you get married? To who? When? [Ask about the circumstances]

            No, but I am still with my first love.

16. Did you have any children? Yes or No? How many? Why? Was this a choice or just happened? If no children, you could ask them why they chose not to or was it medical reasons.        

Yes, I have three children. Although my third child was not even planned. I had always told myself that after I had two boys, I wasn’t going to have any more children. One day I was at a friend’s house and a preacher told me that I was going to have another child and that it would be a girl. I told him he was lying because it wasn’t no way I was going to have another child. Amazing, I had a girl. I haven’t seen that preacher since then, but if he was to see me today, he would see my 20 year old daughter with me as well.

17. Where did they work as an adult?

As an adult, I kept the elders. I also was a baby-sitter for my young siblings. When I learned how to braid hair, I start to braid the older men and women hair. Later I got a job sewing and have been sewing and braiding hair ever since.

18. Ask them about their adult life and what it was like living as a black woman?

As a black woman, life was very easy going for me. I guess that was because I never got to do much at all. I was always sick and couldn’t go out much, so for me life was easy going.

19. Ask them if there are any specific stories that they would like to share regarding their adulthood life and being a black woman

As an adult, I am a very proud black woman. I have three children who have all went off and done something with their lives. I always taught my kids to get an education because once you get something in your mind; nobody can take it away from you. My family seems to be mixed with Choctaw because everyone always mistakes me for being one. My life now is very happy. I spend most of my time still caring for others. I try to support everyone whether their family or not. I still have some of my ways from growing up. I don’t socialize with too many people because now of days folks just keep up to much mess. Back in my day, we didn’t have all this Facebook where you could go to start up trouble. We had the real deal. If you had something to say to somebody you went to them.

20. What were their relationships like with other women? Specifically ask about white and black women.

I never had a problem with white women. I had several white friends that treated me no differently. Even now, I still have several white friends that I keep in contact with.

21. Would they consider themselves friends with white women? Or do they have friends that are

of another race?

I consider myself friends with white people. So many of my black friends have always criticized me for having so many white friends because they say white people are higher than us colored people. Even as a child, I felt like white people were no better than us colored people. I think the problem with black folks now and back then was that they had no confidence in themselves.

22. What type of relationship do you have with black men?

I have a great relationship with black men and I love them dearly. So many times you hear people down talking black men, but I do otherwise. I stand beside my black men. My father was black, so why would I not love black men or have a great relationship with them.

23. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and inside of the home should be? [Here, you can ask specific questions regarding marriage and the roles of both men and women inside of marriage]

Man should be the provider and the woman should help provide they should work together.

24. What do you think about people dating outside of their race? Black men marrying white women and black women marrying white men?

I don’t have a problem with it because a man is going to do what a man wants to do. Just like a woman is going to what a woman wants to do. Everyone has a preference to what they want. If they find it in the opposite race then that’s fine. If they like it, then I love it.

 25. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today?

 The issue that I think affect blacks Americans today is that they are their own worst enemy. They block themselves from achieving great things in life.

Interview #2

1. What is your name? Maiden and Marriage (if applicable)

Nelly Yarbrough

2. Where were you born?

Louisville, MS

3. Where did you grow up?

Mount Calvary

4. What were your parents names and occupations?

Rosie Yarbrough and Perry Yarbrough/Farmer.

5. Do you have any siblings? Yes or No, names? yes. (brianna can name them)

Dennis, Walterine, and Junior

6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in _________?

Growing up as a black girl, life was very hard. At an early age, I had to work. I never got to enjoy my childhood because I had to grow up so fast to help provide for the family. I wasn’t able to attend school.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain?

            Yes, I encountered racism several times. White people were always picking on me because I was mixed. I didn’t look black neither did I look white, so I was an outsider. I never said anything back to them because I would put in jail and probably beaten to death.

8. What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the North/South?

            We didn’t have the same privileges as white kids. We weren’t able to go to school to get an education. Most of the things we learned we were taught at home. White kids were able to have a normal life. While we spent our time slaving in fields and picking cotton just so that we could have something to eat at night.

9. What, if anything, do you remember your parents telling you about race?

 Don’t look at white person the wrong way or they will have your ass thrown in jail

10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman?

Never let with people say to you get you down. Always keep your head up and stay focused no matter what because somebody we will rise above this.

11. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not? yes.

No much at all, I spent most of my days working in the fields.

12. Talk a little bit about those days...

Back then it was hard to make. We didn’t have all these factors and food places that they have today. We had to grow up the old country way. Everything we ate we planted or we killed it. We had to plant and harvest gardens, water the hogs, feed chicks, and we had to work from sun to sun down.

13. What was it like in school for you as a black female?

It was very rough. You never knew what to expect going to school. You may get beat up or jumped on or you may just have a nice, calm day. I guess how you was treated at school, depended on what side of the bed others woke up on. The most of woke up on the wrong side every day because blacks were a constant target every day.

14. Did you graduate and attend college? [Ask questions here to get more info regarding education ect.]

 No, as stated earlier, I was the one that had to provide for my family, so I couldn’t go to school much.

15. Did you get married? To who? When? [Ask about the circumstances]

Yes, I married Emmitt Vaughn. We are still married today, but we live in two separate states. Emmitt ran off from me some years after we got married. He was supposed to go get a chicken for me to cook for the kids, but he never came back and we never got any chicken that night. He moved to Rock Island, Illinois. Sad to say that he just came back to Mississippi maybe a year ago when he got down sick.

16. Did you have any children? Yes or No? How many? Why? Was this a choice or just happened? If no children, you could ask them why they chose not to or was it medical reasons.  

Yes, I had 6 kids. I was always a caregiver because I spent so much time taking care of others and helping everybody else, so I thought I would be a great mother. I raised all my kids as a single parent because my husband left us. I stayed home and cared for them. When they got sick, we came up with remedies because we couldn’t afford medication.

17. Where did they work as an adult?

I worked in the white folks home. I cleaned and cooked for them just like I did at home.

18. Ask them about their adult life and what it was like living as a black woman?

I managed to get through life and survived. As you can see I’m still around her now. We made it out despite the rough circumstances and conditions we were under. All these youth today talk about they got it hard. They don’t know what hard is until they have to go through the things we had to go through. If we could make it through those times, then anybody can make it in the world.

19. Ask them if there are any specific stories that they would like to share regarding their adulthood life and being a black woman.

I don’t have any stories that I would like to share. The doctor says I’m coming down with Alzheimer's, so sometimes I can’t recall certain things

20. What were their relationships like with other women? Specifically ask about white and black women.

I got along great with white and black women. I tried to stay on the good side of white folks because I didn’t want to be put in jail or beaten to death. I showed no fear around white women though.

21. Would they consider themselves friends with white women? Or do they have friends that are of another race?

I had some white friends. I got real close with the women that I was working for.

22. What type of relationship do you have with black men?

Plain and simple: I LOVE BLACK MEN!!!

23. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and inside of the home should be? [Here, you can ask specific questions regarding marriage and the roles of both men and women inside of marriage]

The black man should be the head of the house hold. He should work and provide for his family. The woman should be his supporter, his backbone. She should be a stay home wife or mother.

24. What do you think about people dating outside of their race? Black men marrying white women and black women marrying white men?

This is nothing new to me. Ever since I was a little girl, white men had been having sex with black women and having all kinds of mixed kids. Black men have always found white women attractive in my opinion, but just like the white man they never let it be known. Now, black men and white men are not afraid to go after the opposite sex or to let the public know it. Things have not changed much when it comes to dating and it probably will never change

25. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today?

Blacks have a hard time finding jobs because some want even go to school to get a degree. Getting a high school diploma used to be all you needed to work, but now you got to have a degree. Black have to work 10 times as hard to make it in the world, but they can do if they look to the man above, have faith, and set their mind to it.

~Anita Hill and Clarance Thomas~

            Anita Hill speaking out Clarence Thomas was really a big controversy 19 years ago. It is amazing to me that after 19 years, this controversy is still an issue. I really do not understand why Mrs. Thomas would contact Anita after 19 years. I think that Mrs. Thomas was still holding on to the fact that Anita testified against her husband. I also feel like Mrs. Thomas thought that Anita wanted her husband. To some degree, I wonder the same thing. Why did she wait so late to speak out on him sexual harassing her? Did she enjoy the comments until his comments became too explicit? These kinds of questions come to my mind when I read the articles. Many people thought that Anita was lying about Judge Thomas sexually harassing her. Anita started something when she spoke out about sexual harassment. Many people deal with sexual harassment in the work place, but many pay no attention to it. Sexual harassment could turn into something more, but with Anita that was not the case. Judge Thomas never acted on doing anything with Anita, he just made sexual comments. With some people, that is not always the case. Sexual harassment could lead to stalking, rape, or anything else. I am glad that she spoke out about it because it could have gotten serious. I respect Anita Hill for what she did and I feel that Mrs. Thomas should have not called Anita. Mrs. Thomas should have just let the matter go instead of opening up old wounds.

How Far Have We Really Come???

So often we, as black people, sit back and blame the white man for everything. So many times I hear black people say that they can’t do something because they white man want let them. Everything these days is always about the white man this and the white man that and the white man did this and the white man did that. I understand where my race comes from and where we are headed. But sometimes I sit back and wonder how far have we really come? We are still sitting back and arguing about black and white. We are in the 21^st century and we are still dealing with race and racism. I was always taught, at an early age, to respect everyone no matter what race they are. To me so many people have lost sight of what our ancestors went through. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote, but yet there are so many black people that want even go out and vote saying that their vote don’t matter. Our ancestors fought for us to be able to sit anywhere on a bus, but yet we always run to the back. Our ancestors fought so that we might be able to get an education and be able to sit in the same room with whites, but yet many of us drop out of school and don’t even attempt to get a GED. It sometimes pisses me off when I think about how our generation just takes everything for granted. We sit up and make excuses after excuses about why we can’t come up in the world. We talk about what they white man doing, but we can’t even embrace our own race and uplift one another. I must admit that there are some crooked white people in this world, but you would never know it and you would never hear another white person say it. White people lift each other up. They may hate each other behind closed doors, but they would rather stick together than to allow another black person to get ahead of them. But black people, we down each other around white people. We criticize one another for every little thing. We can’t stand to see another black come up in the community. Until the black community comes together and lift one another up than we, as black people, will always be at the bottom. Then we get mad when we see a black man with a white woman. I mean come on people what does it really matter. If a black man wants a white woman than that is his business. I mean everyone has a preference of what they want. We need to get off this black and white and just live our lives. It seems to me that we are allowing ourselves to go back to what our ancestors had to go through. History is just repeating itself because they same thing that our ancestors fought for and against we are still fighting it now. We, as black people, can do anything we set our minds to. We have to get out of our own way. That’s that problem right there, we are standing on our own way. Until we get outside of self and this mindset that we can’t do something because they white man want let us, than we will never get anywhere. Once you get something in your head nobody can take that away from you. Black people can go as far as they want to go to this world, once they get out their own way. I love my black people and my generation, but I feel like we are missing the bigger picture. We are letting our views block our vision.

Black Women vs White Women

Dear Jamie

I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Black male readers. I
am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, educated and
loving. I just don't understand a lot of Black females attitudes about our
relationship. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst Black
women were slim to none. As he said they were too fat, too loud, too mean,
too argumentative, too> needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess
baggage.

Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by
Black men, willing to wine and dine me and give me the world. If Black women
are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at
themselves and make some changes. I am tired of the dirty looks I get and
snide remarks when we're out in public. I would like to hear from some Black
men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them.

Bryant Gumbel left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles Barkley,
Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones,
James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan,
Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Wesley Snipes...
I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I
wrote this so hurriedly. Don't be mad with us, White women, because so many
of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn from us and we may
lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Black men, Let me know.

Thanks
Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in S A!!!!


RESPONSE

Dear Disgusted White Girl:
I would like to respond to the letter written by A Disgusted White Girl.

Let me start by saying that I am a 28-year old Black man. I graduated from
one of the most prestigious universities in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Business Management. I have a good job at a major
corporation and have recently purchased a house. So, I consider myself to be
among the ranks of successful Black men.

I will not use my precious time to slander white people. I just want to set
the record straight of why Black   men date white women Back in the day, one
of the biggest reasons why Black men dated white women was
because they were considered easy. The Black girls in my neighborhood were
raised in strict homes. They were very strict about when they lost their
virginity and who they lost it to. Because of our impatience to wait,
brothers would look for someone who would give it up easy without too much
hassle. So, they turned to the white girls.

Nowadays, in my opinion, a lot of brothers date white women because they
are docile and easy to control.  :oA lot of Black   men, because of
insecurities, fears, and overall weaknesses, have become intimidated by
the strength of our Black women. We are afraid that our woman will be more
successful than us, make more money than us, drive nicer cars and own bigger
houses.

Because of this fear, many Black men look for a more docile woman.  Someone
we can control. I have talked to numerous Black men and they continuously
comment on how easy it is to control and walk over their white women. I just
want to set the record straight.

I want A Disgusted White Girl to know that not all successful Black men date
white women.

Brothers like Ahmad Rashad, Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, Morris
Chestnut, Will Smith, Blair Underwood, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Samuel L.
Jackson, and Chris Rock all married strong
Black women and, to flip the script, there are numerous white men, in and
out of the spot light, who openly or secretly desire   Black  women over
white women. Ted Danson, Robert DeNiro, and David Bowie to name a few. I
just don't want a "Disgusted White girl" to be misinformed, Stop thinking
that because you are white that you are some type of goddess. Remember, when
Indian Egyptian Queens like Hatsepshut and Nitorcris
were ruling Dynasties and armies of men in Egypt, you were over in the caves
of Europe eating raw meat and beating each other over the head with clubs.

Read your history!
*           It was the Black woman that taught you how to cook and season
your food.
*           It was the Black woman that taught you how to raise your
children.
*           It was Black women who were breast feeding and raising your
babies during slavery.
*           It is the Black woman that had to endure watching their fathers,
husbands, and children beaten, killed, and thrown in jail.

Black women were born with two strikes against them, being Black and being
a woman. And, through all this, still they Rise! It is because of the Black
women's strength, elegance, power, love and beauty that I
could never date anyone except my Black Queen. It is not just the outer
beauty that captivates and draws me to them.

It is not the fact that they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and shades
that I love them. Their inner beauty is what I find most appealing about a
Black woman. Their strong spirit, loving and nurturing souls, their
integrity, their ability to overcome great obstacles, their willingness to
stand for what they believe in, and
their determination to succeed and reach their highest potential while
enduring great pain and suffering is why I have fallen in love with Black
women.

I honestly believe that your anger is geared more toward jealousy and envy
more so than snotty looks.  [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]If this were not so, then why do you continuously
go to tanning salons to darken your skin? If you are so
proud to be white, then why don't you just be happy with your pale skin?
Why do you continue to inject your lips, hips, and breasts with unnatural
and dangerous substances so you can look fuller and more voluptuous? I think
that your anger is really a result of you wanting to have What the Black
woman has...

BOTTOM LINE:
If I were looking for a docile woman, someone I can walk over and control, I
would give you a call. But,
unfortunately, I am looking for a Virtuous Woman. Someone that can be a good
wife and mother to my
children. Someone who can be my best friend and understands my struggles. I
am looking for a soul mate. I am looking for a sister and; unfortunately,
you do not and CANNOT fit the bill.

My Black is Beautiful by keemiekeem

My Black is beautiful, strong, courageous.
Powerful beyond the simple imagination.
Others look on, their mouths open in fascination,
Cause my Black is beautiful, strong, courageous.
So beautiful is my Black that all the world springs from her seed.
In fact, if God ever married, she would be His queen.
The Europeans come and like what they'd seen.
Black beauty ruling over diamonds and things.
Even saw the people and the strength they possessed.
So much, they took us and yall know the rest.
But still inside, Black kings and queens reigned.
Forced to listen to ignorant things.
But if the lion is the king of the jungle,Why is my Black king wearing his mane?
Or just because I'm Black, I need to be tamed.
Stereotypically, yet hypocritically, society judges me so critically.
Saying, "He's only good if he's an athlete physically,
Cause his Black can never make it in the real world mentally."
But actually, the only challenge right here is inside of me.
So I pour out my heart and hope my Black hears my plea!!
Let's go show the people who ruled the world for centuries!!
Pharoahs, kings, and queens over everything.
My Black is beautiful, strong, courageous.
That's why my Black is president over the nation.
They say the color happiness in today's world is green.
So it's time for us to shine and make Our Black seen.

~Quicksand~

Quicksand was a book based on Helga Crane's life. It tells the story of Helga Crane's life. I found the book very interesting because it brought about a lot of realistic things to life. Helga spent her life trying to find herself. To me, it makes me think about what Janie said in Their Eyes were Watching God. She said, "there are two things in life a person got to find out, they got to find out about love and they got to find out about living." Helga was never living her life because she was so caught up in thinking that everyone was against her. She was very self conscious about who she was. In the beginning, she started off as a very strong and outspoken woman, but towards chapter 4, she had lost all of that drive. The turning point in the story was when her uncles wife told her that she didn't belong there because her mother and father were not married. Helga life portrays a lot of people life in America. Helga was a woman that ran from everything. She was never satisfied with her position in life. When things didn't go her way, she ran somewhere else. That is sort of how things are today, some people run when things are not the way they want them to be. Everyone is trying to find out who they are and what their purpose in life is. Helga went a completely different way about finding out who she was. She made excuses for everyone and even herself. She pushed people out her life constantly. In the end, she says that she is happy. I believe that she was never happy. I feel like she just settled because she was tired of running.