interview number 2

·         1. What is your name? Gloria Bean

2. Where were you born? Bruce

3. Where did you grow up? Bruce

4. What were your parents names and occupations? Della Bean

5. Do you have any siblings? Yes, one sister and one brother.

6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in Bruce? It was good. I was picked on because I was skinny. I can’t think of anything different. We just went to school and came home and Granny would have us a big supper ready to eat. You know Nancy I never had to cook and still don’t. Maybe that is why I am still so skinny! Haha.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain? Hell yeah! Right now I am. They don’t treat me as well at the school as they do the white aides. They come and go and no one says anything. My white teacher doesn’t have to do what they pay her to do and no one says a word. I am in there getting paid 14,000 a year and I’m doing all the work!

8. Do you think this treatment is because you are black or because you are uncertified? Both! I guess mostly because I’m uncertified. I just get tired of working and fighting to raise my kids alone and I look at those white women complaining about how hard life is and they just don’t have any idea.

9. What would you like to tell these women? I’d like to tell them to shut the hell up! What difference does it makes if your husband is mad at you, or you can’t go on a vacation this summer. Hell I never get to go on a vacation. I have to do everything myself.  Every month I cry because I don’t know if there will be enough money to pay the bills. Praise the Lord there always is, but it isn’t easy.

10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman? My Grandmother told me I was just as good as anyone and certainly better than any man. Men don’t have a good name with my family. They were never around. My grandmother is very strong and she just sort of showed me how a woman was to be. She taught me how to love God. She told me to be a good person and love God

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11. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not?  Yes I went to school here in Bruce and I lack one semester having my degree in Education. I was going to Blue Mountain and they didn’t seem to want to help me. I think it was because I am black. You know it’s a Baptist school and they have to let some of us in, but they don’t go out of their way to help us. I did not like it. There were too many snooty folk.

12. Did you have any children? Yes. I have three daughters. They drive me nuts. No one messes with them though. The teachers at the school know I won’t put up with it. I never have been married. The girls go to see their fathers some but he is remarried and has another family. He pays child support and helps  out a little with the extras.

13. Ask them about their adult life and what it was like living as a black woman? I like being a black woman! I’m proud of my race and think I’m very pretty. I’m getting old though! Haha I think times are hard for any woman especially when they are raising children on their own.

14. I have a lot of friends. Most of them are black women and men. I am active in church so most of my friends are there or family. I have white friends. You know Nancy, your one of them. We have had a few sparks between the two of us but have worked them out. We really are friends. I know I can count on you. Some of my friends, both black and white I can’t count on. There are a few women at work that I think feel they are better than me, but I don’t know if it’s because I black or not.

15. What type of relationship do you have with black men? Whoo they love me (laughing) I haven’t found one that I want to live with though. They are fine for a good time, but I don’t want anyone telling me what to do. I guess I want to control things. I never had a man in the house except my brother. Just don’t know. I see so much abuse. I won’t let a man lay a hand on me! I would have to kill him.

16. 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 any problem with mixed marriages. I like my men black, but I have had a few white men in my time. They all end up the same. No good. They are good for a good time, but when things get bad they leave. I think that women are just as bad these days. No one seems to put the children first. It bad!

17. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today? I think we need to work on a better school system. Here at Bruce they keep cutting education an our children are missing out. At Coffeeville they had money and spent it on the children. There were afternoon programs and summer programs. Here they just run the streets and get into trouble.