About the Book
One of the highlights of this period of my life was when my mother worked overtime at the cocktail parties and other similar events held by her employers. Sleep was hard to come by on these nights, since the thought of the leftover delicacies that she would bring home kept us awake
My mother would often tell of the children who were rude and spat on her, calling her “nigger” and by her first name. Since it was not customary for adults to be called by their first names, this was regarded as a form of disrespect. However, there were also the “madams,” who sent used clothes, toys, various treats, and other items they no longer used to give to her children, especially at Christmastime.
I remember vaguely there was a quarrel while we children were in bed one night. There was talk about money and Lancer’s dance. My father was angrily soliciting money from my mother so that he could attend this dance. My mother left that night, never to return to live with my father. She subsequently came for her children, whom she worked for and supported as best she could. My father died when I was age seven. I was probably too young to understand the full implications of these events. My two eldest sisters and brothers all went out to work to make ends meet, which involved assisting with paying rent, feeding the household, and sending the younger ones to school.
About the Book
One of the highlights of this period of my life was when my mother worked overtime at the cocktail parties and other similar events held by her employers. Sleep was hard to come by on these nights, since the thought of the leftover delicacies that she would bring home kept us awake
My mother would often tell of the children who were rude and spat on her, calling her “nigger” and by her first name. Since it was not customary for adults to be called by their first names, this was regarded as a form of disrespect. However, there were also the “madams,” who sent used clothes, toys, various treats, and other items they no longer used to give to her children, especially at Christmastime.
I remember vaguely there was a quarrel while we children were in bed one night. There was talk about money and Lancer’s dance. My father was angrily soliciting money from my mother so that he could attend this dance. My mother left that night, never to return to live with my father. She subsequently came for her children, whom she worked for and supported as best she could. My father died when I was age seven. I was probably too young to understand the full implications of these events. My two eldest sisters and brothers all went out to work to make ends meet, which involved assisting with paying rent, feeding the household, and sending the younger ones to school.