Sunday, November 08, 2009

Changing role of women

Cora Allie 1883-1954 Allie was the oldest child in her family. There were 2 brothers and a little sister when her mother died. Allie was 9 years old when she was told to quit school and take care of the family. She became an excellent cook. She made biscuits that would melt in you mouth. The stories I heard tell of aunts and uncles coming to visit and expecting her to wait on them also. Another story was that the little brothers couldn't keep a dry bed at night. Allie was washing clothes on a washboard and doing nightly sheets for her brothers.

Allie lived in rural Mississippi she became friends with neighbors down the road. A relative came to live with them from Alamba. His name was Thomas and was an older man. He had a story following him that he left Alamba because he had killed a man. This visitor had killed his brother-in-law by shooting him. By crossing the state line he escaped the law. Allie was very attracted to him, he paid attention to her something lacking in her life

Thomas had children as old as Allie. He came on to her and talked her into running away with him. Allie jumped at the chance to get away from her life taking care of her father's family. She was all of 17 years old. She called her husband Mr. all of there married life.

Allie's father was furious and vowed never to speak to her again. He kept this vow until he died.

Allie and Thomas's first child was a boy. He was what was called a blue baby which died after a few months. This was a sign of heart problems.

Allie was under the control of her father and became under the control of her husband. Allie and Thomas were sharecroppers in Mississippi. They lived in a wooden shack that was wall papered with newspapers. Their second child a little girl learned to read by reading the newspapers on the wall. Thomas was a Civil War Veteran and died when their daughter was 13 years old.

Allie was under her father's control and went to the control of her husband. Allie didn't have an education and had never been on her own. She did have a pension as the spouse from the Civil War. Without a husband she couldn't sharecrop anymore.

Allie and her daughter moved to South Texas to live with her oldest brother and his family. Allie was left without means of support. While her daughter was in high school she worked in a local laundry. While she lived in her brother's house she was under his control.

Allie's daughter married before she finished high school. Allie was welcomed into there home and never had to work another day in her life. Unless you consider sharing the care of there home and helping take care of there two children.

All of Allie's life she was under someone else's control and dependent upon someone else for her support.

Now I understand the fundamental movement is trying to reduce women to this kind of lifestyle again.

This was a mere two generations ago, please don't let women be reduced to this lifestyle again.

1 comment:

One Fly said...

Nice job and very well said Grandma!!