Freedom Come Movement

I was born in the early 1942 to Thema Lewis Woodmore. By Mother had four Children at the time, I was third we were little stair steps in age, It was in World War Two lot of People moving from the South to other States the north. We lived in Oklahoma territories’ little place Kinda, OH. it Kinda was so little they call it the Country. We were in a Depression My Grandfather would tell, me all time and how blessed we were in Ameria to live country not Cities. Like we had a choice, we live off the land. My Grandfather would read his paper every morning I felt important talking at four years old. My Grandfather and Mother was Elide rant this is a word my aunt Lorain told me. She explained what it means to they could not read or write. My aunts Lorain thirteen and Mary was Fifteen. they lived with my Grandparents. As a child I was, very inquisitive around the house. In that was any secrets mostly my grandmother because I was around her a lot. She had this thing about colorism her and my grandfather to but I was not around him. From I could understand my little cousin would come over all the attention would to them how long there were to their skin. My aunt Lorain say they act like because their father was white. When they left we would go back to getting first class treatment again. But for a four old child it was devastating, I got where did not want them coming over and it was not their fault. There is other ugly secret in live at this time My Grandmother Woodmore told go field pick some berries for pie dinned. I wonder out too far in field I heard t whyhis little voice calling me. It was a Girl around my age she sides I am your cousin. Everything when though my head I would love to have a friend. But before I could reply to my grandmother yield get away from her and hid me. I know it was bad because she never did that and told her get out of here, she dropped the water and ran. This was weird for even me and she never side why. I learned much later that she was my cousin and fam ily feud Father and Mother that been going on for years. After that my grandmother Woodmore started letting us go to church that was fun. The beat of the men shoes all together on dirt floor and singing in tune never heard again. I love it they had all kinds of food that women of the Church had made and sit on the table. They call us by our names ate, all the food that we wanted people going in out, the river getting batiste. My grandmother never kept us from being, rounded my mother family again.

i had two we cousins we play togetherall the time. I don’t know whether still today if they were planed there or not they so much information they had for me. So glad they helped us get out of that Houses when information about my mother came up. And never stop until we were on the bus coming to California. these were two boys my age They were able to come to grandmother Woodmore house whenever they wanted to. What my Sherly could not do, that’s her name found out later. The move to California was hard for my mother with four children. The bus was aright but the train was bad. my sister Vivian baby at the time started crying. and would stop. We were on segregated train solders were coming back World War two. Train was very crowded with black body’s women men young an old. This young black solder told my mother he would hold me, my mother was relived and me too. I thank he liked he liked my mother and was good looking tall and dark with good shape. I didn’t want her to get in trouble I was glad got to our destination. When they said Okland California very body was, happy to my father again. i wanted to see that money that grow on tree in California to see for myself When we got to. Soon the conductor yell out Okland Ca. everybody started getting out seats to getting there reaching for luggage. my Mother pulled us back she said wait until they get off, the next thing my father and was waving at happy laughing happy reunion. I was tired my mother was proud to have us home. My father was proud of her also. We live mid of the block be hide this big a apartment. Two-bedroom house it was lot of children to play with in the building. My Father had good job there, at shipping yard. Thing went along well for a while we got enrolled in school, I made friend. I had this friend name Anna Rose her Father was a Lawer Mather teacher. We were in the world of segregation, we knew know another world. She was there only child; she had all these bolls. Anna would beg me to stay and play with her. So, one day I stay to long and got in trouble. My mother and her friend in the front apartment had pray group. She told my mother go and see where I was coming from . So my mother did and saw me coming out Anna house. My mother talk to Anna Mother my mother stopped me from go there. Didn’t have time to play had schoolwork that. I never Anna Rose again I didn’t go to that school again. My live change I stared getting, sick following out faming. I was staying home more worried look on, my mother face told it all. I could go to the store with my, unhear. The secrets wanted on until I, saw a hole in my mother colt, The store was filled with so many people I got sick you think that would upset but it did. To make long story short i was on the way to Okland County Hospital. My Mother promised that we would never be separated again after that long stay with my Grandparents. She was crying and she spoke to me said it out my hand you got to stay. Well, learned early grown people can’t control everything. I was in that place four-year they didn’t have school in that place some of nurse where kind, but Mose come placative was the you youngest one in my ward for children

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