“I live wid my daughter.  I get $8 from the Welfare.

“If they vote for better it be all right.  I never seen no poles.  I don’t know how they vote.  I’m too old to start up votin’.

“Lawd you got me now.  The times changed and got so fast.  It all beyond me.  I jes’ listens.  I don’t know whut goner happen to this young generation.”

Interviewer:  Samuel S. Taylor
Person interviewed:  W.A.  Anderson (dark brown)
                    3200 W. 18th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas
Age:  78
Occupation:  House and yard man

[HW:  Serves the “Lawd”]

“I don’t know nothin’ about slavery.  You know I wouldn’t know nothin’ bout it cause I was only four years old when the war ended.  All I know is I was born in slavery; but I don’t know nothin’ bout it.

“I don’t remember nothin’ of my parents.  Times was all confused and old folks didn’t talk before chilun.  They didn’t have time.  Besides, my mother and father were separated.

“I was born in Arkansas and have lived here all my life.  But I don’t gossip and entertain.  I just moved in this house last week.  Took a wheelbarrow and brought all these things here myself.

“Those boys out there jus’ threw a stone against the house.  I thought the house was falling.  I work all day and when night comes, I’m tired.

“I don’t have no wife, no children, nothin’; nobody to help me out.  I don’t ask the neighbors nothin’ cept to clear out this junk they left here.

“I ain’t goin’ to talk about the Ku Klux.  I got other things to think about.  It takes all my time and strength to do my work and live a Christian.  Folks got so nowadays they don’t care bout nothin’.  I just live here and serve the Lawd.”

Interviewer’s Comments

Anderson is separated from his wife who left him.  He lost his home a short time ago.  A few months ago, he was so sick he was expected to die.  He supports himself through the friendliness of a few white people who give him odds and ends of work to do.

I made three calls on him, helped him set up his stoves and his beds and clear up his house a little bit since he had just moved into it and had a good deal of work to do.  His misfortunes have made him unwilling to talk just now, but he will give a good interview later I am certain.

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  Henry Anthony; R.F.D. #1 Biscoe, Arkansas
Age:  84

“I was born at Jackson, North Carolina.  My master and mistress named Betsy and Jason Williams but my pa’s name was Anthony.  My young master was a orderly seargent.  He took me wid him to return some mules and wagons.  He showed me what he want done an I followed him round wid wagons.  The wagons hauled ammunition and provisions.  Pa worked for the master and ma cooked.  They got sold to Lausen Capert.  When freedom come they