MB: September 27, 2001



ESMONT ORAL HISTORIES

ROSA AGEE

ESMONT SENIOR CENTER

OCTOBER 4, 2001

INTERVIEWER: MIEKA BRAND

Participants:

RA: Rosa Agee

MB: Mieka Brand

SL: Sarah Lawrence

[counter 000-096 : Bingo, played by the members of the Senior Center]

MB: alright, so I’m starting to record

RA: ok

MB: alright, so last time – gosh, you talked about a lot of stuff, but one thing that I remember especially is that you were talking about your book

RA: oh, my books?

MB: yeah! I was wondering if you could tell me more about them.

RA: oh...

(pause)

RA: I went to the Adult Learners—this was taken on March 19th, 1998. It’s a literature program in Charlottesville and I went to that...

MB: how did you get involved in that?

RA: I just felt like I needed a little more reading—caught up on my reading—and it was in the program, they asked each student to write a story. So I wrote (first year?), which was in 1998... 97. I wrote one also. I wrote one that year, in ’99. (refers to two booklets she pulled out:) This is ’98, and this one was ‘99

MB: that’s so nice how they do that...

RA: this was ’98 and they put all the stories in a book that everyone had wrote. And I wrote one about my 55th birthday, and... I’ll find it

MB (reading): “I will never forget my 55th birthday in July of 1994. our church had planned a trip to Florida, to Disney World. My granddaughter and I were to go. The trip was planned for late July, my birthday is July 2nd. My granddaughter had paid up. I had paid on the trip but needed more money and was at a stand-still... [see story] “What a 55th birthday in Florida.”

(laughter)

RA: that was true!

MB: oh, really? It was just enough money!

RA: yes!

MB: wow, that’s a blessing.

RA: it was great. It was a blessing, yes indeed.

MB: so what did you do in Florida?

RA: oh, we had a great time. We went and visited the studios, its on the (unclear) I can’t remember, but we went to visit the studio, and...

MB: like, where they make the movies?

RA: yeah, one of the studios there. And then we went and – where else did we go? I forgot so much places... But I know I had a great time. I didn’t ride on anything, but my granddaughter did. We just walked and... enjoyed things. And then...

MB: What grand... oh, go ahead:

RA: my granddaughter that I raised.

MB: oh, Lola.

RA: no Tabitha.

MB: oh, Tabitha.

RA: my granddaughter is Tabitha. Lola is my niece. And she went with me and – I forget how old she was, but anyway it was raining in Florida without even a warning. Pour down rain. And you had to go for shelter somewhere... (laughs) but it was great.

MB: oh wow... how long did you go for?

RA: we went for at least four days.

MB: wow. So that was your 55th birthday.

RA: yeah, 55th birthday.

MB: so how did you find out about this literacy program?

RA: it was advertised—someone was advertising it. Either by the school, or what not, was advertising it...

MB: what school?

RA: the Yancey school

MB: Yancey school?

RA: yeah. I used to (unclear)... and that’s where I had my classes at – it was at Yancey school.

MB: is that in Esmont?

RA: yeah. Yancey is...

MB: what is that, a high school?

RA: no – B. F. Yancey Elementary school

MB: ok.

(pause)

RA: yeah, that’s what – it was really nice. I enjoyed the classes that was... and they put everyone who wrote a story, they put in the book. This is the one (refers to second booklet) – this one is longer than the other one. They asked us for to write another story, so I couldn’t think of a topic or anything, so...

MB: I see, so wait. The one you showed me before was from 1998.

RA: u-ha (affirmation).

MB: and that’s this book here?

RA: yeah.

MB: ok. So this is—you went twice.

RA: no, I didn’t go twice. I did two writings within the time that I was there.

MB: I see. So how long was the course?

RA: about... I think I went for the year.

MB: wow, a whole year... so all these other stories are your classmates’?

RA: yeah, those that went. I didn’t meet them or anything

MB: oh, you didn’t?

RA: no, I didn’t meet any of these. I met them at the party we had, you know, after this story was written. I received $25 for writing that story.

MB: oh, really! Wow.

RA: and other people received it, too, but I didn’t know anyone there.

MB: it wasn’t a classroom? Was it one on one, with a tutor?

RA: yeah, we had one-on-one with a tutor. And my tutor taught out here at the Yancey school on Tuesdays and Thursdays

MB: ok. I think I know somebody who’s in that program right now. someone out in Charlottesville. I think I’ve heard of it.

RA: mm-hm.

MB: so this is ‘The Core of My Life.’

RA: u-hah.

MB: should I read it?

RA: if you wish too!

MB: I’d love too. Should I read it out loud?

RA: if you wish too!

MB: yeah – that way we can have it on tape. Do you want to read it?

RA: no, you read it.

MB: you sure?

RA: you want me to?

MB: sure.

RA: I can’t pronounce my words good right now

MB: well...

RA: um... (reads) “The Core of My Life. Since I retired because of illness, it is a challenge for me to have a teenage granddaughter in the house... [see story about how the body is like a car: on counter goes to ~226]

MB: that is – beautiful.

RA: thank you.

MB: yeah, that’s really nice.

RA: thank you.

MB: hm.

RA: Yeah, I could write another one now. I got heart troubles

MB: oh.. what part of the car is that?

RA: (laughs) I don’t know! (unclear) heart break.

MB: yeah.

RA: I don’t know. I’d change it. I wouldn’t put the car in there this time.

MB: what would you put this time?

RA: I don’t know... I’d think about it, and pray about it, and...

MB: yeah.

RA: (unclear)

MB: that’s right.

RA: I don’t know – the teacher helped me a lot, you know, to word it, and to help me where I was wrong, and – to put it together. And I appreciate that.

MB: yeah. You do appreciate that.

RA: I did! I really appreciated that.

MB: yeah, my teachers help me that way, too.

RA: u-hah. And she said ‘you can do it!’ I said, ‘I can’t write no story!’ I told her, I said ‘I can’t write no story.’ So she asked about the topic, and I don’t know how I came up with that subject—The Core of My Life—but I wrote 2 or 3 topics and I said ‘This is the one I will take.’ (it took time?)

MB: well, its great. I hope you do do some more writing.

RA: (laughs) well, we had a publisher somewhere for a little short story

MB: a what?

RA: publish it somewhere for a short story, you know?

MB: yeah!

RA: get a little piece of change for it...

MB: yeah! And, you know, get the word out there also. That’s so nice.

RA: yeah, but – and this (refers to a sheet of paper) is something else I wrote. This is something else I wrote—my granddaughter’s mother died in 1994, and... in 1994 her mother died. And when she died I sent out thank-you notes to those that helped—money or whatever—and I put it on this card. A thank-you note on (unclear). And this is the little poem I wrote—this is the thank you card and note also I had wrote. You can read it out loud if you wish.

MB: me?

RA: yeah, you can read it.

MB: OK. “As I sat in the truck after my granddaughter’s mother’s funeral, waiting for my son and granddaughter, it has been raining all day and made me sad. I thought ‘there is a reason for everything on God’s earth.’ Then I thought, ‘the rain is God kneeling and crying with his hand-covered face. Crying not for the one who is buried, but for those who do not know Him in the pardon of their sins. After hearing such a touching sermon ‘Where Do I Go from Here?’ Matthew 27:42, I’m sure someone was saved because Saturday God was smiling, because the sun was shining so beautifully. Written by Rosa Lee Agee.” And it says, “With words, we could never thank you enough for the kindness you’ve showed us at the time of our bereavement. We thank you again in Jesus’ name for having friends like you. May God keep on blessing you. Love, Tabitha White and Rosa F. Agee.”

RA: u-huh.

MB: so that’s what you sent –

RA: yeah, I sent out, I wrote thank-you notes to all those that said something...

MB: I see. And so, you took Tabitha in after her mother died.

RA: oh, I had had her anyway.

MB: oh, you did.

RA: I had her since she was about four years old.

MB: really!

RA: mm-hm

MB: and you still have her.

RA: yeah – she’s not living with me now.

MB: oh, she isn’t.

RA: but she’s getting ready to have a baby herself

MB: oh, is she? So she’s grown.

RA: yeah, she’s grown. She’s 18 now.

MB: 18, alright. I was imagining her about 14 for some reason...

RA: no, no – 18 now.

MB: ok. So she’s living on her own. She’s gonna have a baby...

RA: yeah. Going to college—going to Piedmont [Piedmont Virginia Community College]

MB: that’s great!

RA: and all that...

MB: oh, that’s real nice. So you’re going to be a great grandmother.

RA: yeah.

MB: how does that feel?

RA: its sort of exciting!

MB: oh, yeah?

RA: (laughs)

MB: at least you don’t have to do any of the changing the diapers, right?

RA: I don’t know about that, though. It might come to me for that...

MB: oh, really (laughs)

RA: I won’t (unclear) (laughs)

MB: well, you have plenty of practice.

RA: oh, boy. I’ve enjoyed it, though.

MB: it must be real different raising kids these days

RA: it is different. It is different and difficult.

MB: which one is harder, do you think?

RA: this day and time.

MB: now?

RA: yes.

MB: huh. How come?

RA: they have so much to get into now! those drugs... when we were coming up as a child all we had was liquor and cigarettes – that’s all we had. But now they got drugs—and not just one kind, but several kinds...

MB: right

RA: and it is very hard on the child to know (unclear)

MB: when you were growing up, it must have been... well, the end of the Depression and Prohibition. But you must have been too young to remember Prohibition...

RA: I was.

MB: yeah, cause by the time you were old enough to think about alcohol...

RA: yeah – but it was there when I was coming up.

MB: it was.

RA: yeah.

MB: you remember people drinking?

RA: yeah – I’ve seen it.

MB: and was it a temptation for you?

RA: since my father, he was an alcoholic.

MB: oh, he was.

RA: yeah. No, it wasn’t a temptation for me.

MB: it was never a problem.

RA: uh-uh (no) not a problem for me.

MB: but people around in the neighborhood?

RA: yeah. Well, in the neighborhood. And Jim (died) and my brother, he went to drinking also.

MB: he went to drinking. Your older brother.

RA: yeah. My older brother. As for me, it didn’t bother me. Alcohol (unclear).

MB: right. Where would people buy alcohol?

RA: it was most like, then they were bootlegging.

MB: it was bootlegging.

RA: bootlegging a lot. That’s where a lot of it was. (unclear—very noisy. Woman with lunch collection basket comes around. Ms. Agee gives her a dollar). But... But I would like to have a little book with my stories in it, you know.

MB: yeah! You should really do that.

RA: where would you publish such a thing, though?

MB: you know, this, the History of Esmont – we could publish it in there.

RA: really.

MB: yeah, you know, what we’re doing is – we’re putting it on the computer so young people who have access to the computer can read about what Esmont used to be like, but hopefully what we’re gonna do also is print it all out into, like, a little book and give it to people around here. So if you put something together we could easily include it in, and we would love to. Yeah, I think it will be real nice, and you know—I think young people would really appreciate it. Just, you know—cause we don’t know what it was like to live here – not even forty years ago.

RA: yeah.

MB: I think people would appreciate it. I would.

RA: I know they would too, though.

MB: yeah.

RA: they would

MB: yeah, you know, I was thinking: maybe the thing I should ask is, you know, now that you’re going to have a great-grandchild. When he or she grows up, what would you like them to know about you and your life, and about—yeah, just about you and your life and the things that you saw and experienced when you were growing up.

RA: just tell her about, my life as a child, and as—being her mother’s grandmother and just her... her great grandmother! And the difference it had made through the years with each one.

MB: yeah. So here is your tape, and one day we’re gonna give this to your great grandchild...

RA: thank you! Really?

MB: I hope so! I mean, its gonna be available. What’ we’re going to do is make copies of all the tapes and give them to you and you can give it to your great grandchild.

RA: oh, I see. I would like for her to know how times were when, for me, and the family, and raising her mother. And also, how times were with... with the schooling, and with the... what else can I say? With the schooling part... and things that go along with a child growing up.

MB: right. So what specifically? Like, what about schooling? What would you like her to know about schooling?

RA: about the type of things that was in the school at that time?

MB: so what type of things?

RA: like the teachers, how the teachers were. And about what sort of books, and what sort of...

MB: yeah, do you remember any of the books?

RA: I remember the little book we had: it was, let me think, “Run Jane Run”

MB: Run...

RA: Jane Run

MB: Jane Run – oh, yeah.

RA: and there was another little one—“Spot”. It was a book called “Spot.”

MB: just “Spot”? S-P-O-T? what was that one about?

RA: uh-huh. It was a little dog named Spot. And it was little dog that had a little spot on it (laughs) – white with one little spot on him. And another one...

MB: what’s Run Jane Run?

RA: it was a little first grade book: “Run Jane, run. See Jane run. Run run run.”

MB: (laughs) you remember it!

RA: (laughs) yeah! Yes, I did. Sure did. I remember that... I remember actually the one that I had in the 5th grade or something like that. I can remember that, but the books and things that are from higher, I can’t remember.... and then we had geography

[some confusion and laughter over pronounciation – ]

RA: geography – the world history, like?

MB: geography!

RA: yeah!

MB: geography, OK (laughter) what’d you learn in that?

RA: just about, you know, about maps and things, and figuring about the map – where city’s and what-not is. But I used to like biology, where you dissect the frogs and I could draw good, and...

MB: you all dissected frogs??

RA: yeah, we dissected frogs, and we used to do the frog, and then the drawing part—everyone used to ask me to do the drawing, cause I used to draw so neat the (heart?) and things

MB: ooh, really. You used to draw what you dissected?

RA: yeah, we used to draw the frogs—yeah, the frog.

MB: oh, really.

RA: not after he... before.

MB: ok ok. So you were good at that.

RA: I was good at drawing that. Yes.

MB: you draw a lot?

RA: no, I don’t draw now.

MB: but you used to?

RA: I used to draw like that, little stuff like that. Used to look at the picture and draw it. I didn’t trace it, I looked at it and draw it like that.

MB: so those are the books and then...

RA: and... let me think about...

MB: you said also the teachers?...

RA: oh yeah – teachers: Ms. Price. I remember Ms. Price. I might have mentioned her. Ms. Price, at the old Esmont School... Ms. Price, and then I had... Mr. Faulkner was the principal.

MB: Faulkner?

RA: u-huh (yes).

MB: were these teachers white?

RA: no, they were black.

MB: they were black teachers, OK.

RA: and (pause)

MB: he was the principal of Esmont school?

RA: mm-hm. (pause) that’s about all I can remember now.

MB: is there anything in particular about how the school was that you want to...

RA: oh, well, just that it was a little two room school down here. A little two-room school and there was a classroom, and then inside was an old big metal stove. And they used to... whoever got there first would get the fire going.

MB: who went there?

RA: oh, all the kids—some of the kids from Keene and some were taken to the grade school right here. It was about 5 years old. And after, I remember, I went to about the fourth grade, but in the first grade I took sick with my legs and I couldn’t go to school that year.

MB: at all! The whole year?

RA: that whole year I could not go to school.

MB: and that was rickets?

RA: rickets.

MB: how did they find out that you had it?

RA: well, I was at home after school, at evening, and I was at the woodpile, cutting wood, and I just fell. And I couldn’t move any more. I couldn’t walk or do anything. And my mother carried me to the doctor, hospital, and that’s when they found out what I had.

MB: so they ran tests or something?

RA: yeah, they probably did. I don’t remember, but they operated right away.

MB: wow.

RA: and, like today, my—feel right here (puts my hand on her upper right thigh), like today my leg has...

MB: oh, you’ve got a scar over there.

RA: scar, yeah.

MB: that’s where the operation

RA: that’s where the operation took place, right there.

MB: so what did they do?

RA: I don’t know. They probably – it seems like they took a bone out, but I don’t have any records now of what happened. But my told me, she said what I had. I had stayed with a cast up to my waist, to my leg.

(singing begins)

MB: wow! For how long?

RA: for a year.

MB: for a whole year!

RA: what happened, they changed—from time to time they would change the cast and I would come home and it dried and then I stayed in the hospital over night. But that’s how it went on for a year.

MB: wow. So you missed a whole year of school.

RA: yes I did.

MB: anybody come to visit you when you were in the hospital

(piano joins the singing)

RA: yeah, they came to visit me

MB: I think we’re going to have to finish next week...

RA: yeah..

MB: you gonna be here?

RA: yeah...

.

.

.

(singing, reciting scripture & blessing the food)

[recording ends with counter at 494]

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