Document text
ALL.Jee_411,2.0
Forms to be Filled out for Each Interviel
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
FORMA
Circumstances of Interview
STATE New York
NAME OF WORKER Vivian Morris
ADDRESS 225 West 130 Street
DATE May II, 1939
SUBJECT Book To Nature
1. Date and time of interview
2. Place of interview
3. Name and address of informant
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.
(Use as many additional sheets as nedessary, for any of the forms,
each bearing the proper headinL and the number to which the material
refers.)
FORM C
Text of Interview (Unedited)
STATE New York
NAME OF WORKER Vivian Morris
ADDRESS 225 West 130 Street
DATE May 8, 1939
SUBJECT Back To Nature
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
"This here Geographic magazine is real swell. Been readint
it last night ant went thru it twice. Looke here --here's real life.
Ever hear 'bout Belgian Congo? You did, huh? That some piece
of land ------Look at this map; big huh? Here's some pictures of African
life. See how they dress? That's the life, boy. That's where I 'manna
go:
To hell with this civilization. I ain't got no taste for this
life here. No sir: What the hell am I doint here? I can't get used to
it a bit. Yes, sir; my folks came from thereabouts ---been shipped over
here —slaves —tied together and shipped here, and you can't tell me
wets any better than we were over there. There's real life there --no
so called civilization --just live natural; none of these cloes ant none
of this discrimiration.
What am I doint here pumpint up this elevator---gettint where?
Nowherel Look here ant tell me if this aintt real life ---free ant happy
ant no such city civilization. That's where I wanna go. Yes, sir; I'd
go right now -----right away:
2.
Boy! I'd like to take off these cloes--just wear natural cloes
like this here picture. That's healthy, boy; not like this junk we choke
in. Real cloes ant real life ---trees ant grass an animals ---free as the
wind.---Roaminl around like my ancestors did; free to live an' not worry
'bout jobs an' bossess That's unnatural. Yessir to be real happy
an' dance like in this picture —that's real life —dance an, hunt ant
be back in your ancestors' territory. This here city civilization's got
me.
An' what're we workint for? To buy cloes an' feed a family' en'
run up and down with this elevator year in ant out. If that's civilized,
then give me Africa, for that's where I manna go to ant be reallhappy.
Yes, boy, that's real life --..free life. I'd leave this minute.
I don't feel I belong here ---I'm sick of this here job an' the mesa I
have to live in. There ain't no opportunity. You ain't gonna tell ma
there is. If there wuz I wouldn't be here. I study at home nights ant
during my lunch. So what? How'm I gonna get a decent job? You know
just as I that it's tough to get a decent job on account of my skin.
It's black that's what keeps me from gettin' decent work. ---Think
I like it here pushinl up this elevator? Like Hell!
My skin's black. It makes a hell uva lot of difference —here
but there ---over in the Congo? That's my place; no color discrimination
no such lousy civilization. And real freedom, yessir2 Real freedom:
That's natural, that is --green grass an' a beautiful. sky. You're just
as good as anyone ant free to live happy. You feel you own the trees
ant birds ant animals ant all that's around you. That's life, bor.--
honest ant free.
3.
/es: I'd like to go right now ant you bet I'd be hippy as hell
that's the place I'd give anything to be at: