Rocking chairs have always been important in my life. I only started my pretend traveling via rocking chair in October, 2011.
But I guess I have rocked a little almost every day of my life when I would mostly be thinking. But now I find I am mostly remembering.
I will share a little with you today about what I remember about my childhood in segregated Memphis, Tennessee.


I was around 3 years old. (1936)
"Ironer" only helped us a few weeks, but was very sweet to me. When her work day was over, we often played dolls before she went home; I was very lonely. As I sit in my rocking chair remembering that time, I see a dark screened- in back porch and a kitchen; in my mind the memory is surrounded by blue and gray...

My next black friends were people I only heard on the radio.
In Memphis we had a station that played mostly black music.

I am guessing that about that time Elvis was listening somewhere to the same kind of music. With this recording Elvis showed he was not only comfortable with black gospel, but had a passion for it!!
It may be hard for younger people to realize what living in a segregated city meant. Half our population was black. Yet, we knew virtually none at all. By 1944 I had two younger brothers. When Mother got sick again, Helen came into our lives for a few weeks.
She was entirely different from "Ironer." For one thing she was old. But she was loving to our family and knew how to give hugs. I have heard that some people, who had black servants, had special dishes for them to eat out of, because they were afraid of germs. What?! Nonsense! When we sat down to eat, Helen sat at the table with us as part of our family.
So in my youth I only KNEW 2 black people: both women, both maids, both were my friends. "Ironer" & Helen are still remembered and of course I'll never forget my black radio friends. I still hear them on You tube!
I guess I should get up out of the rocking chair and cook supper now...just thought I'd share a little about living in Memphis during segregation.
I am closing with what some people consider to be the FIRST rock and roll song...
sung by my radio friend,
Sister Rosseta Tharpe
annie in memphis
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