Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2020/Summer II/Section 06/Ned Davis

Overview
Ned Davis was born in DeWeese, South Carolina on August 13, 1987. Most of his life was spent running his own black barber shop. In 1939, he was interviewed for the Federal Writers' Project.

Early Life
Ned Davis, real name Invictus, was born in DeWeese, South Carolina on August 13, 1897. He grew up close with his grandmother as she took him in for five years after his mother died when he was three years old. The only brother he had died at age two. The population of African Americans living was on a downward spiral after 1830 due to the fact that those of African descent were not prosperous; therefore, not receiving the same public health. When Ned’s father remarried, the new wife had young Davis attend school up until third grade. During the early 20th century, it was difficult for African Americans to get an education because of racial segregation in transportation and schools. It was highly unlikely for African-American children to be in school at such young ages. His new stepmother is how Davis first got into the hair and beauty industry. Using roots, she dug out in the woods, she would create a grease that would allow for hair growth. With her recipe, Davis got a secret hair grower. After the learning of this recipe, his dad separated from his wife and they moved out to the country. As his dad worked on the farm, Davis would either accompany him or work in the owner’s house. The owners grew a liking for Davis and as he watched over the little boy he would be paid in meals. It was quite common during these times to see African Americans not only working in the fields, but as domestics in the house as well.

Adult Life
Davis had to go from job to job, making $1.25 a week to $6.00 a week. Racial discrimination often only left low-paying service jobs for black people. Although African Americans were making promising success in early 1900s, they “were still relatively disadvantaged in terms of education, labor market success, and home ownership”. Davis married a woman named Ila May that he met at one of his previous jobs. Within a year, they had their first child; however, Ila became very sick at this point and Davis had lost his job—he was broke. She then died and Davis married again to Mabel Langford. He proceeded to pick up small jobs every so often, until he finally perfected his Caravan pressin’ oil and Caravan shampoo. He had his wife learn how to dress hair and then they set up a parlor in Latonia. They had no equipment, so they had to use what they already had—regular wash basin, five pound keg, water cooler with a sprinkler for running water, etc. He began perfecting more hair tools that were useful to popular hair styles at the time. His wife proceeded back to work and he dressed the hair himself. Word got around that a man was doing hair and people began going to Ned out of curiosity. It was also uncommon for African Americans to have their own business during this time due to low standards white people created for them. Davis wanted his business to be about serving his own race. He noted “He’s a race man th’ough and th’ough [sic]” in his interview with the Federal Worker’s Project.

In the Household
It was normal to see African Americans working as caretakers or doing other chores in the house. The majority of the time, they would be put to work in the kitchen where it would be segregated. The kitchen was separate from the rest of the house and according to Lancaster, “this separation remains a structural/physical enactment of segregation”. For some, “the kitchen became a place where black authority could be established and could threaten the household at its very center.” The kitchen was a place for African Americans to stand their ground and be treated as a professional; however, if they were to leave the kitchen, they would be viewed as inferior once again. During the twentieth century, many people would think of the blacks in the kitchen just like family to the people that own the house. This thought is a myth and is shown when people realize the African Americans aren’t allowed to nap on the couch or entertain their friends in the house.

Black Entrepreneurs
As African Americans transitioned from being held as slaves to getting jobs with money that held decent value, there were some blacks that decided they wanted to own their business. African Americans were able to start overcoming economic hardships through taking blue and white collar jobs. For example, a former slave named Biddy Mason saved money from her time as a nurse to invest in real estate and founded the first AME Church. White people had carved out low standards for African Americans. By African Americans starting their own businesses, it shows people that these low standards were incorrect. According to Thomas Maloney, many people used to think “if 90 percent of Whites were unable to care for themselves in capitalist systems, Black slaves certainly needed masters to care for them.” However, Ned Davis proves that blacks are just as able to care for themselves by owning his own shop and taking care of those that entered his barber shop.