Document text
Federal ioriters, Project
Paul Diggs
Lakeland, Flort_ea
February 17,196i0
Whiteheadjohn Hannah
41110) tittes%
Lakel,nd,
JOMN ADD MAIMAH WH1TIISLAD. Lka CUTT.4i
LA most Florida CitiOW therels a ty..e of colored men who earm
tibiAr livelihood gutting lams ,of the homes of the wait 4 white
home owners. They oan be 210611 going through the streets with lawn
mowers1 pushing them, in small home made wagons,or n Ube back of
ola automobiles, going to their res,ective jobs; or solicting a job
In Joe white sectione. This type or work only afror4 i4ork for then
during certain SeubOtiti :-.X.the year. gostly during the e:Irly
and extending through the late fu'ls.,
John w -s contacted tor an Interview due. to as years in 1.1vvice
cutting lawns.' Wst,Awd.thate he has bt-Aan cuttl.ng lawns evel
612100 he came to Lakeland in 7.440.10
John lits n u -,,andy street facing WashingUm 'kurk. The
house in which he lives selaUx back irom the street, and was wooed
used for 4 garage. It is built out of galvanized, tint with.Alt win.
does. There is two doors =glaring from the frolt into two seperate
rooms 4411402 ouariei the only two rooms in the bLJ.4. Jim: the
-door there is a sign still visible H 6 GL.rageom itat sev.rul _
faded', Coca C=L:1 signs,
He ba,.; a large yard in the rtiv.r. Here he had been krekaring
the grind and opening ue rows ror *lanting- sollSki seed..
H1., wire li..nnah i444 busy ironing clothes in the room thA
a cbination kitchen itna bed room. Clothes /seri., onthu beu
&moat just liLlabod ironing them. The room w..,s v,ry
due to there was no _windows in the room. The only light and
ventilation :mies through the kitchen door.
26100
t trom tha kit stove Lovoro, tiLa calling,
ci.a, woou StaC;d fl tu tuVu, UI OL tuk or it was
h4.4, arL.•,n mower, s extenaint outtrow tha walls
on this
on A1 ii a .uts kLms, Tho w-ils coy vu with c,.ru
6 red fl ,,t.ro, TJA; ULi1 jL t1Lo „Ti _nal
ti covt;•rintLii Lilt; r,.0.1, V 1 uirty xru tho s,,ot
the tv., Tho 1%. or s U EU tAikl crck vr L Uwe
Lnt tn.; 4.1,r to iZLt.at4 4nr-agh.
'nowt r u .hr,uth .AALoor Lu a roo,ii ILL t
irk,u1.14.
C- utL_Inint; -n
tAse tuVe-
.:-Lhothr swan tbhe
h eat, two -ock.rs,
or„ Lt, dLi. Laur -z;er, ttk; ri or ults rAwou brown
colored rug LIX1 r e vr, stora c_rd
1,,,;Aos• ituL.0 to4k; co iix. b re, A cot w.S of
clothes that h,C rea,y for ,t,1.1,iv,ry,
I. r t bo. a cu'. tuk 01,. titna., It is in this betl
Ung0t-t ..LLAn Bannahnt..y 1.v
Ltt is vory sii z tivo foat L4ild tour +nobs& in
naittio weight ODO hunar u tio. fAty s•ourrLso u. r bro-,,n in
At:. I-4Lp 41',11 black Kr L.L.6au •dth hi.ut,a.th were all
%Jxtr-ctu. tA,;u tn‘_ u.,ar ront h1._ La uth, Vary cnk.:or-
lua „n_ ot hi. ti4.46,44 te:Ort.; SA„, th4Lb CUt 1113
a ri,y ielt li.t "1, c eit 11 of hit ttu,
*fti. h,,a legs cro,s'
16 tr„fau n e- A on, Alan built, efoar.ng
„.0 e.urt- .V. it s. ditty white r U. &Lags*
u fr iJoath t G ago. AmY 1440
-ouiv
bck
tkxiun Qr, r tu 6_itt 1Ja,lohil 60 1 will have to
go fQr 1.3ity rtb. 0U 6ba b-hitiff I.A.LU 1110 AitehOili bck
iAna irth fr._141 the stove to tL, Lble skim bu.14 ir iA
J ii, bu bi„,a not v cy l'ohc r,Aaraw trow tbu ioutuebbile
Licvmx.ie k
oe k. L uld, I just g t ytag for uti Cbevrolet
,Loel, it r.:ot e v. Ivo riz lfty flip cen*s.-
to c .41, of .eml govertat.:ht cc ter:lt. i'be ku4
degLI and ceish. deal 4.1eh 1 -rat :.i istetitnJ 4y boy ria;st :tn
deo C C C Caat, near Sarasota Florid .*1Ii nfGrAst;
be :..1d cash Vella so it tL, I tai. the goverweuts reoordf,
lulu that it, writ I Ii cii,,A1)1 &i tt les 1 la
oiiieeow
J-441 fart:tter•:ittedtiu..b, hkt burn zvc..XvZ1 Ge 4gia,
12. to, Ii.e brought down Irs to _140.Lyoraisod down uari .n
broocht batik .411d rth to both _L,ceL,u zy tiLaes
tsallt tell the number. 1 gloveJ to 1ri LU 1k. 4 iJur,onts
Li zii'o1110, tbey bore ben u sotak, -ey wrotk,er sbe
riL wbun I 4i._4) b. yo Thcik WC ts Lac Zi Aocty, Juos iAaether
betwiace di, and John.*
kooila were i.x.gerse they sh,.n frogi two t three plows,
We oaacri.zi47 ;ck ilors to tir Jou. Yesiguodhatis alive& I
edlowed, I don't know :alythimg else but Awoimg, 1 strted
wirig Jailort I was r.,,a1 small ouuld lwrAly kM ul to the
t—priAss.w
w I 134,rrled iq fist-wiie lawher Edeomd in 190:6, she died
4-171VU,e ma.rried in Georgia 40..n day' to Joe Edwomile
Ahlelied down dal*, to Wh okerls Cro.simg, Laurence Coufity,
41' children, Toole aoout g44atties abOUt tO; Lazarus, about 311
andL,u.611-4) a about lba two Lied at child birth. That's the
crop from ay first uirriage.11
Lazerus nud Leola Neile. ere in Chicago, UltuoiE. Leolaa
is in New Jeruys Cora Bella is in Georgina out dne to .Joe
4diAteludla kilocein
NI m4rried ray 6eqoud wife Lille butler at Choriie Butler,
aitLt slue the in Lrudiey Ge rgia, Ch_ldreu 6 rut Ma*.
lila, about Jneesa .x.salst .but "iille
about 1:; rona gwito ou gwine
two died t child birth. Tim Loirrg. uo ilodneuL; aiivQ."
I n't get z k. balk. to of them. -r,rmast is in
'arcs
-t 6Lixels,144,i4ori. I baught thc tg foru.t1
ul ytu thirty tt Lr tor rt-,h, tc.r,:lull
the u abut it, he tV441041 Me a big car _LiKi clime! Jut to the'
111,,,usitto 1 g -v4, ILL,u
c,...h UY,Aa
that calale trom 1—rirw-t."
-eUt.:.
other chalreu i,delime is sk.rriod ah iiv; .-own
d,,r1 Fifth Ntruet in ji ytLw h ties, James1 in uth
Cr line, wora.11,g. 'IAA: is fouSteeh
G orgiaa tarii.;mg, ri6ht 41,4eswid'hit,i Uri
vithJL LL S
The 6,..,od Loru s,_ red
tell the UJJ ,b,ut tth 11
to lire. here f,.1- to
LUIri:Xinge, I aa. 1:1,1,A.L.4 -0—
cause I Alt W he got to coat. I th,n't now the ihute or
the Ala,. N
Nu* wy tiixct le &mall BUraea suarriedbor thic: ,o.Lthusd,4
bore Chritmas two yo. ago he in L-kei-hd, 1 courtocl her
abut seVvh or eight mouth„a dt's boa* moUghe
Hannah 'Joked u, .ith matldiefromy r tha hot iron cud
iti.A:A born In Grt-*Abiucodip utti my- ii.ronta were
erank end Thomas, There tvoti tea al our faal#, irk; WM
still ,iv,ngw: Llaik5 Blocker, Doiy C-r-Ger,
betay 011,heht my -1 t alater liveL, LI, Or,
ti 11 TrtiOlaiab 1.11ree &Zt for iirf J\ -fa Jeff -1.1, n-
1.,,,ke Morten A.:Lye. be IF.L-eka A.Alt thurt OU Lbk:. 0-4-11.41Vb404
N
hen 1 lrveJ be there in
outh CriLn
r1" kgeklip ..e wOtiad Cs. Liet.
.wy keoe t4.4t,y
1.
pOia.:01:16. CO ten, •votiAtotai 6..111.4 ht. 1-11bUi.,wc
WoLlat ir of it 1;- corn ,,nd cotton. If we ai hot
enough to y hy u ti C.,Au it Lii but Lrlm vt4otApie,
:;.10114e tl-LLt i y-
tr your 4,-xtel,
Juripgti. ye:a. he ..Q1.i.Ld furnibt you se nth,thi4t
wouad run to the else of y urtiminr. upy jubt
much it teitkaiLu dc you mouth,*
N Lipce C t 1,,,elpki I i r Aga'. alio T.."
i.„ oi cotton i it
worth 'vivo. I di- get thr.e h- -01 1-
-I ny
get two _lax._ r three work. It b ri.h or, th‹..n Lh-t
..i.hey come g,t, me„ oriugu Lxe wili.te rolkS.
14y hk—lth not g I ufi_elt 4 ta.; rt. Li
,nag toukch truble. '4;owetlmeI vu to 4 z. tht- r,uht
alqe. SoiJe night 1 u.nit ait t 11, justl roll 4nd to a all
rcight &mg. I u:4y hula) pa to leut 5u..e window
I
-abig a: 4 WflLg- from tht ui tuv.1
time,I
john i 1,e g dik; Lime ii 1 w
in c &u.oh ir -y witke you worse, critCh c,Ati iid kve othv-r
S.ei1Utb1 but :f it .12)441 tt,ra tka I sts lb tcer
',cut one oL- two not to any. 4eu,
wiLi-owa. 1 try wt lt,t any tat
AUCh r hit tte a= t4.oa,*
licuniah r diaint go to (thool. v -'y _soch. 1 can
little, but Iknow enough that fre;.,h air it, gov for any one le
John avu:v ow,* 1 'west to Bird 1111- ,cwol. I weal%
‘„s$ .b the fifth gr Alor ,o,Le 1,, I 01 t
Yk.s 6_10, If I bed an otto tiJn I be wuCh better wan twri
am too,ly. ii f ych-l_ren Otlt rotty f.; trap 61%,,ce), Li
they -11 c -n r, d -u. figure,*
m Mt; good Lard kr—rou AMI*;4 tO !Jerk: for swattn.hg. I
a y in it is the Lora' t... givob we trenath
*ben I go to church Ilse Li the Lora to hel, we. I be_ ng to
Ware .'St Wag* 41‘ tun ry Baktist Chum*" ovcr on F,:otth
4,venne.a. have ood',Iscacher ov r there. hem •Williaea,
be ca,n krv4ob tiled living goakel. I belicvc ID uetb 1ti.t faith.
to. ow ittc-w,oI beiievc in taco word of IT :lariat. I be-
lieve Amor* bt•kti4OU who uonet believe in it w111 go
do n below. I juw.t reclkon tia,teb uel ii 7 It is. You be.i.leve AU
ibis Lord and be J. ki*Jae -y for you. I wooldest be abl. to
gct 1-wmw to cut if .Lt w a not fur Um. Lod."
You no Uwe -re liirAcrant now. '.hen 1 wa. in Georg
I au r INV a -LIS ifet.Ontiht 1.k.,kat rot ..01.tiy IBC 0 I ivi
Wen 1n riu-• Long in the b„os thesesI use to WratAi four or
five ao.lara a Vim tiWe dOtie over with Low, &Jou 40
recea_n any wore tim,z cong Ira thc.,.u.."
*I it.vo cut eCur billet. 1 hi.vc bin U L,hcl nd. I
start,d cutting le.sins when I id%t my job :,.we r. -go. I I' Awe
keep wel with. out
',0444t3Ai;4044,ile; iW tO
out ui.,te 1 sou.d
•t u,te Yuentcut ebere boliyeS
7.
lawn alike: Some p,ople wants their lawn cut closes other Just
ant the top grass off of it. I hafA to boal black dirt to some
of the lawns, dat, give the soil new its, /44, pretty good at
cutting hedge and trimming around flowers. Of course I don't
know the name of ail dent flowers, Sone f the white folks call
dent fumy names I cadidInt 'sounds tent if I tried. I Just
say yessum au' nosirs dat the way I do. pay' tell me somethi.nt
bout calling the flower doctors bless goodness if 4,71 doult
have ail kinds of doctors. I cut one lawn this weeks and I made
one dollars but I ain't got cat' one yet. When work pick up.
I make from five to six doll,..,rs a week, I Charge from seventy
fire cents to one dollars depends on the size of the yard and
the bushes arouna them. .It is very seldom I.gitt over datt Ssage
times I an over, yonder i. the Alliee,folks section before the sun
is up, I go mid' out my breakfasts no time for eatin when you
are trying to 6et on a Job. Oh some time I wrap up a piece of
meat in a paper bag ,Jad highb 11,w
w We don't kkve much to eat t times, food is so high. I la.13;
p y fifty cents for de -0 shacks arld the' rest goes for f.od. Most
de' time we eat notbinlbut meat and breads eat a little per* chops,
cern bre_ds grits, col—ard greens, mustards., cabbagass and plenty
of fat bacon. I sit' lots or fruits lot of delmen around me rick
fruit s and every night dey t bring home some in their sacks,
be only eat two Meals a days dat's ugh for any body,,Le;ok at
me don't I look like avian vitt don't sat to much. I have been thin
all Ay life. It's s-nethini to be proud ofififty eight years olds
and a father of all dem grown children. I still can do is good asys
work any time. You see eatin is wh.t kill lots of people. I iike
void drinks, strawberry is my favorite drinks I like-'.-
BUS I donst like liat4s, No sir, I dr't liue it; like: tuke it
4,1'44 iron moo °ambling is soathis else you eau uwuy
me, ohe ol 4 children gauole CUUDO I triad to rursa owl
rigbt. I teaches's* to wor• tor us' accost Iivlago boas of uoal
have shmed we so fur, All deal oat/ warriec J..oult quit their
husbua-a like daApo ckder girls do, its thi. way you brim a$
Uo-o I wouidtat give &Oak of my f,mg,a. for sows else hero foLus
children so. rummiag upu down do, street. Doy aoult hors ao
Maamerso
Jolt wiao wont buck to as tug wad suid o JUst l-
ira.' I 6ot a Aoco of tia with white uma red on it for wy mow.
La tact I stuLtiod u I.a3g time 'fore I buught it, tug. I aeou.ed
the wow fo it. WO co.,tag time now aut our Luwa w,ra
will start me, the sui, runakmg DOW as dis$ wurm
_Liuuss tgrais grow much fustoro The Lora worAs azkeo..Loss
fuvort. Ala I, thatik his is vu4Pkitig in wine, Th..t Ql ci 1only
aiwi it te carry 4 tools. bucu utilu forth .fro w work.
4.ong .-uy out to tho white folk soot cm 4iero tholf beim mixieyo The
quikor I get_ _a the lob the wore I mukeo an yo a balm to hustle
to bout tho odor follows out ,-(are It's look :ilk. dust, is ton
won to as job Whoa work ;rick up.- Thibre is not muLy cutting
L0Vv1 but just you wait Wien this fruit business slow ilowasiboy you
see tams sti.,rt getting out -of old lua mower ulio ::,turt to sh
lag it..
You sir, roliof busines is go. o in _luces, but I ith..ke
mg this tram I Iihiala o It, Th_ relief u t$ I got fro y SAS
In c_w4 i sae ,ortioa of it, Laid 1 aw thunuful for it, but I Uo*si.
stok w,Jrklago A .4uu Wought uk th_ furw 1.1.SA; we, CALLA/at 1,et
d wn umu a mothralun I woulo mo/t uwi_y to authial 1.L, not
mush 01 we no now. I Just ki _not sit down on 4 t no sir.
when I u -s young I woula take ;:ii of d n1 tiu to tne bean fie.d
an.. we uuld jvick be ms L11 Tty long. And t day de..11 LA0V118 cun
do L u4.4.!.; w,rkir To ,amy iu-y eoo,le, uil days wuni to do to
sit out y nder an dem 1 benches in th rk-u 1 duy Ic,ng LIA
I kefik towpath -al to come SLOSS
abo sirs I d nit votei long ago I Voted, but since my wife
die five years ago I beie be‘n so WOVTit;,A I dia1mt vuy no mind
to my tango I th,sik a ...an sbould unierstand hot: to vote and yiek
ut the right an to *tuna for him It ne,d,4 more tiLis seta now.
A.ickyS have folks to lout out fur us, if diJiat 4 afoul. be
lost in dis1 id worla. I 4 n1t kno bat colored foi.k_ Uia do
ir %.3y1 out out u4s ruliot Maxims:5, Ic..0 y 1 bare notbin1
to 1.0 bock on, I -40111t read 40 yikrer, but I work rouna
wtt S. kaman r :em1 takimiglbout it. I yay teution to
whmt dey 1 are s yimg, you know m4km out; but I unUtz.rsiund
JAY 0 -stiy., .)-441,2 4071 TOtton I JAM botber with &olities
I 4ouldint understund it. Yo ks ebould1nt tutbar 4,ith'things
4(01 don't know mothint 1 bout.°
'boon I it0 tbovughwith my aowk juaA. co..,:e home -na
sit -round an look my 1-dy, I. a krutty guou oie soul.
BaSliajoyes sir, sbe Is u good iorkwr too, ;bat litLie bit sbe
ur haiys out. u lot, I kidie 1roumu in toe garuan some.
utside of tn t 1 ju t it Around -bum not rii.irig. 1 g to ,4
enu:,.ca wh,.;n I ctn. I like w•Leh Lel ,yo; tut baii
over yona,r on ...ail tennis court. I •ivaky to be liv_ng ne.,r
del ,urk I :Ale ail del fun•go .414,11
I hooked 14, void, y oe £b4y1 cause I got tiriAl of coking
for 4reif. Lb4 is a ktutty c;oou coot- ,leuses dal white folksom
O riU tsk so if I knew Wu; to tr-nisklat flowers, you meun to
move deist true one #160e to another. ister u know if 1 anew
more t but flowars Iev.viu shake moilo wonuy. Lots of klases 1'
day iask ac tangs t&.baLit b011 t0'10041 al I 400W
is t. gut tbe ola small dow,u,rt 4 Lake eataar. But I finU oat,
is to etroft, so I six a 111410 s x-Jd wid it, 1,t1 is better,
tkire bOWe eZpaligINV ,L,M16 ,nd y -u have to be c,retul bow
yoaa uao tavetyboy oanttaiess wldt laima aua flowers,
lust uart so,40 books date sbow L y.,U bow to do, it I had one
wou.4 gitt ay 4,,ughter to aiw_ain things to lee, I OiLL aaaa out
was de, itrasb, but aegis deyt aULuse,*
:outgo what a reli.ow gItt fit ewInt to towns whoa 1 as
alp, in Go rg I 1/4.4i.int 11;..ve to worry 'bout 4.1.1 uii 111ki
.;:%ork. eu know how to ,low zkfl L.ki-nt, sit I roam
for a fa_ wk ,fter dot planting c4rki keek uet birus troll& ,lcking
all the saeus out, hoe dent af%.er cows uk ano. 4otte all,
bo- ru have to be a,we.„bing ii. 4 aootor at ev..rysii_mg you do,
1 s_atiae aelb I bad a littla faro, I believe I eu d naak.- a go
of it, (our,* it is bard "to gitt rluoe 71..ihd hers,just five
acres 4oulu be tnougb furl
Yes sir, I think golorod koo„ta slwIelo have a section of
their owa as ng day' have good houses to.ilve in, tio%v you
juat io ut UUtl barn I tuslimlig in, YAA know I nt to do batter.
binea y u bay,bri c4ig rouna 1 beL4 things beLtere,Y u Gantt
fina Awnt klace to _Ave trouoi hare, hioUseb za&al sc.rw in
1,401andee kove to use det toilet uatt is %S y ebree ()Odor
.4a Ube del Witt tub to bathe In L,7.tUrki,jr, so we
will be fr
ti for 1,44. how 1 IIM4, ,atla bot right.
sons oi up bud better k_aoes we .kwuld do butter.
take our stro.tels when *bore I take my car down del street
10e
I may be lucky if J don't pick up glass or a nail* We could have
bettor streets* All demo:, things would make it better for us
colored folks. I don't think it is good to mix up, but we could
have better things in our section* When I go into del white
folks setion and see how smooth theirs is, and I come back to
our se,.tion und se bow rough it is, then I begin to wonder*
Wipe some day God will chi_nge things**
R I have seen lots of changes around this town, there is so
manyrstrange people you h&rdly know then when you wi.. 1k down the
street* It use to be a time when you knew everybody in tows*
Times 13L,6 changed thing now. Well I guess dat' the way it goes,'
I had to wives an now getting use to the third one, So I
guess times b -s changed wide meow
'ffiefore you leave what about us going to was. Do you think
we will hve to fight those people across the waters Well I know
they won't use and old man like me. I would be to scare,- to carry
water more less fight* I bear the white folks Viking about some
trvuble across the water, I don't believe folks should kal each
othr_r up. don't even carry a knife myself, that's di,n6erousirs
*Mister in your gitting around, if you see any one who, want
their lawns cut, please remember me, Old John* I will give them
a good Job* when you come back I will have your windows cut in
the h use* Your visit has open up my eyes. Come again any tineow