|
From Leland June 3, 01
Loren, I have already sent this to Cooper and I will forward his response. I sent it from Charleston, where I
was when reading Jimmy Carter's book. I happened to have Cooper's e-mail address there, but did not have
your (new) one.
Cooper will probably not remember, but Loren, do you remember that Daddy1 bought our first (maybe only)
radio -- the floor model that sat beside the front door -- specifically so he could see a major boxing match? I
have just read, in Jimmy Carter's autobiography, "An Hour Before Daylight," about his family's battery
powered radio
(no electricity in Plains, GA) and the memorable broadcast in 1938 of a return match between Joe Louis and
Max Schmeling. Could that have been the one?
From Cooper June 6, 01
I certainly remember the radio, but I can't imagine daddy listening to the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling boxing
match.
From Loren on June 6, 01
Here are some memories brought to recall by your reflections on Jimmy Carter's stories about battery
powered radios.
- I remember listening to a battery powered radio at Uncle Oscar's and Aunt Essie's place. (Aunt Essie
made the best scrambled eggs I've ever had - her secret was bacon grease.)
- My recollection of the acquisition of the radio is different from yours. I recall that Dad won it or part of the
purchase price - in a contest that ran over several weeks in the State newspaper. But, however or why ever
he got it I was glad. I had felt deprived when my school buddies talked about their favorite radio shows - my
big disappointment after we got it was that we could not get "The Shadow" which was a CBS program
(Charlotte and Savannah) and WIS, an NBC affiliate, was then the ONLY station Columbia had. I don't
remember hearing Dad talk about wanting a radio to listen (not see!) to a major boxing match, not even the
memorable rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. I think we got the radio just before we moved
from Meadow Street.
- I was very excited about that rematch. Joe Louis was one of my heroes. I had a Big Little Book about
him and felt a special kinship with him because his birthday was in May (8 or 13), only a few days away
from mine. A few days before the fight, I was sharing my excitement with Poppa2. He let me ramble on and
finally said, "I sure hope the white man wins". I was stunned. How could my grandfather, who was such a
wonderful source of love, warmth and wisdom want a German Nazi (he was not a Nazi I later learned) to beat
Joe Louis, an American? (I've shared this story - with good results - several times in racism workshops.)
What did Jimmy Carter say about this fight?
From Leland June 6, 01
- I didn't know this story about Papa (is there a correct spelling?), but I remember another one with similar
disappointment to me. I think it happened while he was Police Chief, but maybe not. He was on a street car
in Savannah when a black man refused to move to the rear of the car. Papa reached over a seat and moved
him. I believe Papa cracked a rib (his) in the process. The story, as I heard it, made Papa a hero. I could
not reconcile that with Christian principles, including the fact that Papa was a Deacon or Elder in the
Methodist Church.
- Jimmy Carter tells a similar story. His Daddy's battery radio was the only radio in Plains/Archery. Blacks
lived in Archery unless they lived on white farms in Plains. Jimmy's daddy was the leading citizen of Plains
and had good rapport with the blacks, but never violated the racial mores of the times (His wife, Miss Lillian,
did). The black community arranged with Mr. Carter to assemble on his front lawn (too many to come in and
mores would not allow it) and listen to the fight. The whites, of course, favored the white man,
notwithstanding his German
nationality. The blacks, of course, favored Joe Louis. When the fight was over, with a Joe Louis victory, the
blacks shuffled away quietly (the mores would not allow anything else), but when they got back to Archery,
"all Hell broke loose!"
Loren, if you are still doing racism workshops, Jimmy Carter's autobiography would have a lot of good
material, like the above.
From Cooper
You guys must be old! I'm glad I wasn't born until Columbia received all three radio networks. I definitely
remember the Shadow. Loren, I imagine the reception in the country (Uncle Oscar and Aunt Essie's) was
pretty weak.
Leland, I think Papa is the correct spelling. All of my grandchildren called me that when they were little and
Kayla and Haily still do.
I met Miss Lillian at Andrews AFB, when she had dinner at my club. She did not hesitate to speak her mind
when her son was President, so I am sure she was not intimidated by her husband!
From Loren on June 7, 01
To continue on Joe Louis and Max Schmeling - I'm not doing racism workshops any more, but perhaps the
last one I did was for the San Francisco Dept. of Social Services. After I had told my Papa-Louis-Schmeling
story and discussed it (how kids learn important stuff from elders - with no one really aware of it), one of the
black women participants told me that she had dated Joe Louis! That was exciting.
From Cooper June 7, 01
A friend and neighbor of ours (he is a member of our local VFW Post with me) had the distinction of boxing
Joe Louis in an exhibition bout during the early 40's while Joe was a Sgt. in the Army. My friend, Bob Weber
was the Heavyweight Champ of his Unit. Naturally he said he was "volunteered" by his Commander and was
extremely scared and nervous. He never met Louis until they got in the ring for the 3 round bout. As they
touched gloves in the center of the ring, before the bell, Joe Louis told him, "relax, I won't hurt you." Bob
said he couldn't relax, but Joe Louis did not hurt him.
From Loren June 9, 01
Back to the streetcar story. The way I remember it, a black man not only did not sit in the rear, he sat down
next to the young woman who later became our mother! A related memory is of a conversation between Mom3
and a friend of hers in Savannah. The friend asked her if a black person had ever sat next to her on the
streetcar or elevated train in Chicago. Mom said, "yes". Her friend asked how she felt and to her friend's
disappointment, I think, Mom said, in effect, "No problem".
From Leland June 9, 01
Who was Joe Palooka's manager?
From Loren June 10, 01
Knobby Walsh. And who did Joe marry and what was the name of his closest friend?
From Cooper June 10, 01
First name was Nobby or Knobby
From Loren June 11, 01
Back to another story triggered by the radio story. In 1944, while Uncle Pete was staying with us before
going overseas, he had been needling Dad about racial issues. Finally, he asked, "What would you do if
Eleanor Roosevelt and a big black buck nigger" (excuse my language) "showed up on your doorstep?" He
paused for a moment and then said, "I would invite them in for dinner." Pete's response was, "Wyman,
you're hopeless". Our parents were truly remarkable.
From Leland June 11, 01
Yes, Cooper was close and Loren has it right. I don't have a clue about Joe's marriage and friend.
Yes, our parents were remarkable, notwithstanding some adherence to old mores like the rough framed
toilet in the basement for Mamie.
Do either of you remember the time communion was being served at FBC4. A black person(s) had been
seated near back of church. The Deacon serving that part of the church passed the blacks by. Our Daddy
noticed and he made a special trip to serve them.
From Loren June 11, 01
I've heard the story about communion at FBC - but I think that happened while I was away. But another story
about Mamie - Sometime after she had moved to New York, she came back to Columbia for a visit and
visited Mom.
Mom brought her through the front door and entertained her just like any other guest. Our neighbors were
shocked.
From Cooper June 15, 01
I remember a Communion Service at FBC on a Sunday evening. A black family sat in the center rear of the
balcony. I think there was only a few other people in the balcony. As I recall it, the usher did not know what
to do.
People downstairs were looking up. The Pastor gave a slight nod of his head and the usher served them.
I also remember the toilet in the basement for Mamie. Loren, I also remember Mamie's visit from the
"North". Mamie hugged Mama when they arrived and our truly remarkable Mother returned her hug. I also
allowed Mamie to share the swing with me.
|