Document text
NY SBH 12/13/39
MariUme Folklore
American Indian -Negro
This may be authentic transcription but it
seems too unnatural.. Nothing in the text
indicates that the speaker is a man of
American Indian -Negro background."
In other words, though it may possibly IS
an actual transcription of a talk, it does
not ring true, and hence falls flat.
No.
Forms to be Filled out for Each Interview
FORM A
Circumstances of Interview
STATE New York
NAME OF WORKER Saul Levitt
ADDRESS 557 Nest 144th Street
DATE May 11, 1939
SUBJECT Matitime Folklore
1. Date and time of interview
May 9
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
2. Place of interview
At Rockefeller Center. Picketline against Standard Oil Co.
3. Name and address of informant
Tom (t)
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in
touch with informant.
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc.
Peaceful day, one cop at the Rockefeller Center Bldg.
Three pickets going up and dawn.
(Informant American Indian -Negro background. Complexion
Negro, but features out in the pattern interviewer
would say are Indian, as American Indians are shown on
pictures, nickels, calendars, etc. Very gentle -mannered,
soft spoken)
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, for any of the forms,
each bearing the proper headin, and the number to which the material
refers.)
STATE
New York
FORM C
Text of Interview (Unedited)
NAIVE OF WORKER Saul Levitt
ADDRESS 557 West 144th Street
DATE
May 11, 1939
SUBJECT Maritime Folklore
IT IS FULL OF SO MUCH COLORS
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
Mister, I do not know who you are and it will make
no difference as you will see because though I am friendly
and polite and you might be a stooge, what am I going to tell
you? Well, I could tell you offhand what the sky looks like.
We are standing on this corner of 50th Street where we are
picketing Standard Oil and it is quiet, isn't it, I would
say it is a lovely and quiet day. All over mostly it is not
bad and people are easy, simple, substanshual and there is no
trouble for me only once in a while --well! I have had to put
my head in the lion's mouth for a living but it does not pay
to growl or grumble or complain and whatnot with all this
that is going on and—wellI Sometimes you are performing
your work when one out of a half dozen or a few hundreds or a
few thousands will intereere and will raise the cry about a
man's color —well! That is a very sad and bad and hurting
and painful thing to do to any man. I have been mat everywhere
I have gone with salutations and greetings and have been
received to the mos' extreme goodness and gladness and with
courteous kindness because that is haw I am everywhere. I
an a sensible body. Caution and politeness are my rules. I
was up in Berlin, I was up in Paris. In Japan they greeted
me kindly. I observe the simple rules of beint not intimidatin'
so that I am never blamed for instigatinl. Living is full of
personal difficult things and whatnot but there are few people
who will turn against you if you are smiling and show a good
face everywhere and do you understand me? In this Union and
everywhere it's like everything throughout this whole big an'
wide throughout an' big wonderful world. Everybody of course
that I have observed would like to interrupt you when you
are talking so that he finishes the sentence and makes the
final statement. Well! Everybody is so extremely and always
occupied that he does not see more'n the faces in other people.
They do not know of anybody's burden of troubles. Yessir, do
you see what I mean that everywhere it is mos' wonderful and
beautiful that I do not understand this thing about black,
black/or brawn or green or purple or whatnot or don't they
understand that free n' equal is the rule? Everywhere it is
full of so much colors and so much to see that I do not
understand it. Santiago, Oakland, Illicago, Brooklyn it is
all the same though I bein' Californian love it mos' best
because it is my native ground to me. It is got the mos'
balsixtazx sunlight glorious and wonderful/ But I do not
complain against other places all over and everywhere and
will give every man his chance. But there are few who grasp
this and the do not appreciate that it is just one lifetime
and they will continually disturb you on the ships. I am
polite everywhere and quiet, because if you are clever you
muss learn to keep quiet because it is other people who
wants to use your strength. They will ride you but they do
not want you around if you are clever. Well! This Union
to my mind and my heart is the greates' an' mos' wonderful
institution in this City that is the N M U and throughout
other ports yes and on the Gulf and elsewhere. The N M U
understands that there is only one lifetime here an' that is
the most important thing to understand. I am without envy
or jealous or in spite with people, young man and I will
greet you again when I see you and at anytime and will eat
with you and it will be pleasant. Because I will never threw
bouquets at myself, never, but mos' everybody is my friend.