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A GOOD INVESTMENT
(Georgia)
One afternoon I went out on West Broad
Street, one of Athens largest negro sections, for an interview. When I
arrived at the address I found that my consultant had just left town. I
rested for a few minutes, then went on my way wondering where I could go
to get my next story.
As I walked down the street, I saw a nicely dressed, young negro man go up
on a porch and rap on the front door. In his hand he had a book, to which
he kept referring, while waiting for a response to his knock. No one
answered and he turned to leave. I knew that insurance agents were usually
out collecting on that day, so I asked him if that was his business.
"Yes, Miss," he said, "and I like it very much."
"Would you take the time to tell me something of your life work?" I said.
"Sure I will," he said. "Of course this is one of my busiest days, but I
can make up the time I guess. But why do you want to know anything about
my life? he continued. "I haven't lived in this old world so very long and
my life story might not be of much account.
I explained to him what my business was and why I wished his story.
"All right," he said, "if you wish we can talk right here." He looked
around for a place for me to sit down. On the porch was a swing with most
of the seat torn out. It did not look to be very strong either so I was
afraid to risk it.
"I'll just sit right here on the edge of the porch," I said.
"Wait, Miss, it is very dusty," he said. He went to his car which was
parked in front, brought a newspaper and spread it out for me to sit on.
He stood very respectfully and we began our conversation.
Anthony Jackson is a negro far above the average of his race, about
twenty-six years of age, rather tall and slender. He has bright black eyes
that were keen with enthusiasm and his short mustache gives him the
appearance of being older than his years. He was dressed in a neat
business suit with a soft felt hat to match and wearing a nice looking
ring, which he afterwards told me was his fraternity ring. Being a well
educated negro his conversation shows none of the characteristics of the
illiterate Negro.
"I was born," he began, "right here in Athens, Georgia, down on Pope
Street. I live at 168 Pope Street now, but that's not where I was born. My
childhood was very happy. Somehow we children had a better living than a
lot of colored children. There were just two of us children. Yes, Ma'am,
just two of us, one brother and myself. I owe the most of my advantages
though, to my mother and her people. She had fine people on her side. I
don't remember my father very well; he died when I was just six years old.
Of course, there are a few little things I can remember. Funny how little
things stick with you. I can remember good one day when he took me 'cross
his knee and paddled me for running away. Oh, it didn't hurt much, it hurt
my feelings more, than anything else. Yes, Ma'am, my parents were strick
on us. We were not allowed to run 'round on the streets like a lot of
children.
"My father was a carpenter and did well. Yes, he made good money. He
always took his money home to my mother and she put it away with what she
made. Yes, they pulled together. Yes, my mother, she worked too. My father
didn't leave us much money, just a little insurance, that's all. He had a
nice funeral. Of course I went, but I can't remember much about it. She
doesn't want us boys to forget our father, so she keeps us in mind of him
all the time. No, we had a small family. Large families, I guess are nice,
but my daddy died and left us so young; I reckon it's best that there were
only two of us.
We don't own our home, never have owned
one, but we are planning to try to borrow some money soon and start us
one. Of course I have to have a car in my business.
We live in a nice house now. Oh! it isn't fine, but it's all right for
now. It isn't so much to look at but my mother is proud of how comfortable
it is. And her flowers! I just wish you could see them. If you ever happen
to be down that way stop at 168 Pope Street and see my mother and her
flowers. She's not there all the time, but most in general she is. She
does washing so that keeps her there. She is a good cook too, but she
don't cook out, just cooks for us. She makes a nice house for us, too.
"Somehow after my father died, we got along better than we did when he was
living. I believe I told you my mother had fine people, well they helped
my mother raise us two boys.
"I have a fairly good education, and would have had more, but I had an
accident that disabled me for a while. The first school I went to was Knox
Institute, right over here on Reese Street. Then I went to the old Union
Baptist school over on Baxter Street. These are both elementary schools.
Part of the time, too, I went to Morris Brown School in Atlanta. The
reason I went there, my father worked there a short while, so we moved
with him. When we came back to Athens, I went to Walker Baptist College in
August and I finished there. I was a pretty good athlete and I got a
scolarship for playing ball. That was a fine school but it only carried
you so far and no father. My real college education was at State College
over in South Carolina. While I was there I majored in chemistry and
minored in biology. I was working toward a pre-med degree. I really wanted
to be a doctor, but, during the time I was in college, I got a fractured
skull and had to quit my course. I believe I told you while ago about my
accident. Well, I can't say just how it happened, it was done so quick.
The first I knew I was in a hospital and doctors and nurses were all
around. I was seriously injured and have never been able to go back to
school. Sometimes now I am tempted to try it.
"I began writing insurance when I had to quit school, and have been at it
now for several years. It is nice work and pays well. I'm with the North
Carolina Mutual Company and my office is in the Mack Payne building on
Washington Street. Our district office is in Atlanta and the home office
is in Durham, North Carolina. There are three things we need when we get
sick. God, a good doctor and life insurance. Insurance is surely a good
investment. People of my color believe in insurance. They say that's the
only way they can save money. It's too easy to draw out of the bank. Funny
thing too about insurance - it looks like the poorer and more ignorant
they are, the more particular they are about keeping their payments up.
Seems that those who know values do not carry protection.
"Collecting is not so bad as some people think. Most people are pleasant
about it. The first week in the month is always good, but the last gets
kinder tough. I try to help my customers all I can when they can't pay.
One old lady pays all her insurance in vegetables. She has a good garden
and we don't have one where we live, so she furnishes us all the kinds of
vegetables she raises and in turn I deduct the amount for the vegetables
from the amount she owes the company and I take care of her premiums
myself when they come due. It's all the same to me. We write a lot of
different kinds of policies. Endowment, participating, industrial, sick
and accident and most every kind any other company carries. One of the
finest kind we write is group insurance. Usually that is for a firm where
lots of people are working. The head of the firm takes it out, and the
premiums are taken out of their salaries. That is fine, for it compels
people to have protection.
"I forgot to tell you, I have taught school some. I liked that too but
like insurance better. This spring when schools were gettin' in such a
mess, I was glad I was out of it. Governor Rivers is 'bout to get things
straightened out though. I thought he would if they would just give him
time.
"Going back to writing insurance," he continued, "we have some funny
things to happen. Our company is fine to pay off. We never have any
trouble on lawsuits or anything like that. Of course there are always
people who think they are mistreated.
"A man who had a policy with us got sick and was down a long time. We knew
he was going to die and he did too. His wife kept up his premiums. One day
they told her when the end was near; this woman left her husband and came
to our office.
"Good morning," I said, "can I do anything for you? I really was surprised
to see her for I had heard John was dying."
"Yes, sir," she said, "John 'bout gone; I jist thought I'd let you know,
so you could rush up the insurance."
"I explained that we couldn't do anything until after he died. "
"Well," she said, "he caint come back fer his eyes is done set. Now how is
I ter berry him?"
"I told her to let me know as soon as he died and I would see that she
would not be worried about putting him away. In a few hours he passed away
and he was put away in grand style."
"One right troublesome policy is the sick and accident. People will try to
impose on us. Even if it is my own race I'm talking about, some of 'em are
crooks. They will lay off from work from pure laziness, and then want to
collect for it. We have some strict regulations though, and it's hard for
them to get by now.
"Yes," in answer to a question, "I go to church, Ebernezer Church, that
big one right around the corner. J. C. Gresham of Atlanta is the pastor.
Yes, Ma'am, I'm baptist. I'm a junior deacon and I help usher, this is,
when I don't sing in the choir. Yes, I sing or rather I like to. What
voice I have is tenor. I never have studied singing but I wish I had. We
have special music only on first Sunday. I don't go to the B.Y.P.U. much.
Guess I should, but I don't.
"Yes, I believe every one should vote. I never have, but I'm qualified, so
I'm going to vote next time. I'm crazy about President Roosevelt. Why,
Miss, he helped give me my schooling. It was NYA work. I was assistant to
the physical education instructor at this college in South Carolina, I was
telling you about. Yes, Ma'am, I believe in voting. My fraternity had a
motto that says, 'a voteless person is a helpless person.'
"I've never married, I guess I'm old enough, but I never have felt like I
had enough money. It takes money to set up a home. Course now, I don't
know how long I'll be single, but like it is now, I'm afraid to get mixed
up with anything like that. Oh! I have a nice friend and I guess we sorter
have an understanding, but I haven't ever breathed getting married yet."
It was getting late and I knew he should be busy with his collecting, so I
thanked him and went on my way. He went in the next house and as I passed
I heard someone say, "Good evenin', Mr. Jackson, it sure is a good thing
you come right when you did. I wuz jest about ter spend my polishy money."
A GOOD INVESTMENT
Written By:
Mrs. Leola T. Bradley
Research Field Worker
Georgia Writers' Project
Athens Georgia
Edited By:
Mrs. Maggie B. Freeman
Editor
Georgia Writers' Project
Athens, Georgia
WPA Area 6
October 12, 1939
October 9, 1939
Andrew Johnson (Negro)
168 Pope Street
Athens, Georgia
Insurance Agent
Bradley -
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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