I didn't get that, at all, from the book. I'm certain there were some folks who DID treat their 'help' in a very snooty manner. And it's no stretch to believe that there were separate bathrooms for the 'help', considering there were separate public bathroom facilities for 'coloreds', in the South at the time.
I have no illusions about the South of my youth. I'm sure that there were many who looked down on their 'help', treating them badly, just as I'm sure there were many who treated them well. I was only 10 when the three civil rights workers were murdered, so I wasn't that aware, politically, of what was going on, since my family was not of the socioeconomic class that employed regular 'help'. I do remember my Mama hiring a young black woman to do some ironing for us, but that was only for a few weeks, after the birth of my youngest sister. I don't remember the young lady at all, since I was always in school, when she came, but I don't remember Mama ever saying anything about her not using our bathrooms. I can't imagine that Mama would have done that, since neither she, nor my Daddy, ever had that attitude about black people.
It's just a separation especially if they are live ins and works better really...gives them their private quarters.
We did not have that but my grandfather did...but no one would refuse them food or water on the fine china.
I don't have illusions either...especially now. I know this...however bad it was then...black culture was intact...black illegitimacy was only 20%...black crime and corruption was negligible except on Farish streets on Saturday nites..and I could have my car break down any where and all the city was safe.
Today it has all fallen apart.
It's difficult to judge really how much better is progress. We were never truly segregated and now we are not fully integrated...Jackson has resegregated with richer blacks joining whites on the perimeter or in pockets of the Northeast holdouts.
Every year exponentially more whites murdered or raped etc by blacks than the total of all blacks killed during everything from Reconstruction thru Jim Crow
so what did we really gain?
a clearer conscience..mine was fine already after New York
or a larger black middle class that votes for entitlements after decades of pundits assuring us that once opportunity and education gave them this they would adopt out values
hell they shared our values more when they were oppressed.
I never thought it would turn out like this...it's a very mixed bag and the future is grim.
Right now my kinfolks who stayed in Clinton are trying to get out because they see where it's headed...down...they don't know whether to go to Raymond or Madison...maybe down below Terry...
helluva way to live....it's like South Africa..staying ahead of the blight
and no cure in sight
struggle mentioned black middle class flight...that reminded me of the first nice black neighborhood when I was a boy...out Delta Drive ...Presidential Hills...past Northside dr
now when I'm in town for family or family business...I often stay at Cabot on County Line and drive across county line to NE Hinds to see my cousin who lives out near that tort lawyer's big horse farm on former Irby land...Carson road I think...anyhow...looks like a lot of nice black homes out Hanging Moss and Watkins...former white areas in my day but they look like they held up
My maternal grandma lived on Lexington..tween St Charles and First...near Whitfield elementary...decent in the 60s and 70s then nice blacks moved in but later the riff raff ...same pattern and everyone leaves and you get zip for your home
How do you stop that cycle?
Drive thru there now and it is bad....like really really bad.
You got me thinking though ...did I ever see anyone mistreat their domestics?
I cannot say I did though what do I really know...I was kid. I know my dad spent many a sunday morning bailing his black men outta the tank...brawling...got “staubed” or domestic fighting...I got to ride along since he had built the new jail...we'd walk right in and fetch everyone to take them to their homes where wives were waiting...yes they all married back then more so...they'd be all humble and contrite...I loved it...I could miss church and we'd slip by Primos for a box of brownies..
yep..great place to grow up for me....I'm able to replicate that for my kids here in Williamson county TN but in Jackson proper today it would be a tall order..
it sucks...I'll never shake it...it's in your blood...anyone from Mississippi gets it...the moss, the decay smell, the faded gentility..I miss it in some ways though I know life for my kids here is safer and I don't have a private school bill