interview #1

1. What is your name? Maiden and Married

Interviewee: My name is Annie B. Wiggins. My maiden name is Annie Body.

2. Where were you born?

Interviewee: Belzoni, MS
3. Where did you grow up?

Interviewee: I grew up in Belzoni, MS

4. What were you parents names and occupation?

Interviewee: My mother’s name is Annie Lee Body, Darrell Body. They were share croppers.

5. Do you have siblings? Yes or No. Names?

Interviewee: I have 15 siblings. Sweet, Muss, Busher, Shane, Mane, Paul, Lu, Queen, Walter, Pumpkin, Johnny lee, Charles, Francine, Terrell, Lucas

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

Interviewee: I know we wasn’t a stranger to work. We were in the cotton fields. The only way a black women left the family was if she married or went to school. Black girls were married off young mostly to younger guy. Black girl had to work in the house cooking and cleaning.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain? 

Interviewee: Yes, I have. I just didn’t know that what it was called. I remember when they lynched my pastor in front of the church. When we went to church he was hanging there.

8.  What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the North/South? The set backs were the Jim Crow South.

Interviewee: We did not have as good as school. Our parents were harder on use as disciplinarians. We often had limited options.

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

Interviewee:  I remember them telling me im different so I have to be grateful for what I get and work harder to get it.

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

Interviewee: my parents told me the bible say I am suppose to support my husband and stand behind him. My duty is to bear children and have a husband. Taking care of the children.

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

Interviewee: I did and graduated from high school.

12. Talk a  little bit about those days…

Interviewee:  In those days, people often would not finish school they would drop out in the eight grade to help provide for their families. Family was the most important thing.

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

Interviewee:  It was hard school was hard enough without the boys teasing us. Many boys did not believe that women should get an education. Women were suppose to be in the house.

14. Did you graduate and attend college?

Interviewee:  I married and had no been able to attend college. I was a preacher’s wife.

15. Did you get married? To who? When?

Interviewee: Yeah, Frank Thorton in 1949

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 no to or was it medical reasons.

Interviewee: Yes, I had one. It just happened. I nearly died having her and  could no longer have anymore.

17. Where did they work as an adult?

Interviewee: She became a a veteran affairs associate.

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

Interviewee: It is difficult being a black woman of the working class. We have to be faster, smarter, and more intuitive then black women. Black women must be the mothers and so much moiré with men leaving the burden on women.

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

Interviewee: Being a black woman meant you had to be strong but gentle. Your grandfather cheated on me and use to beat me. Your grandfather also uses to beat your mother. I had to send you mother to my mother’s so she would be safe. I remember when your grandfather beat me for buy you mother some bubble bath. In those days, women did not have to many options, so what else could I have done. When you grandfather died he left all his money to his mistresses and left me nothing.

20. What were their relationships like with other women?

Interviewee: Many times like today, black women have more enemies than friends. Black women came together yeah. But, you had to worry about the next woman taking you husband. Life was hard for black women and the men would have sex where they could get it. You had to be friendly, but on the look out as well.

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

Interviewee: I don’t consider white folks to be friends. When times get hard the turn on you all of them are the same. The only reason the act civil now is because they have to. I have no respect for them people.
22. What type of relationship do you have with black men?

Interviewee: I was taught that if you was with a man it better be your man. If it was not your man you were seen as a slut. You did not want to get a bad reputation. Or no one would marry you.

23. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and inside of the home should be?

Interviewee: Men should tend to outside work and women should be inside. A woman should stand by and take care of her man. A woman should raise the children. Men should provide for the family. Women if needed should also work but help as well. A man is the man of the house regardless. If you don’t give the man the chicken breast he will not stay.

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

Interviewee: I cant stand those people who be with other races. This makes me sick. I hate everyone of them they are all traitor. They all are wasting or race. I hate them you would think they would have more respect for themselves.

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

Interviewee: lack of self-esteem is them main issue. Black have not pride in themselves and no one can help or love you if you don’t have pride in yourself.