Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2021/Spring/105/Section 56/Harrison Waters

Overview:
Harrison Waters was interviewed by Jack Kytle in association with the Federal Writers’ Project. The interview took place on October 21, 1938 in Talladega Springs, Alabama.

Biography
Harrison Waters was an African American born in Talladega Springs, Alabama and lived there his whole life until he died at age 58. He lived around the time period of the early 1900’s when Jim Crow Laws and racism were in effect. He was married and had a son who passed away and a daughter. In the beginning of his life he was very poor and didn’t have a lot to his name. Due to Jim Crow laws, he didn't get an education. Instead, he realized how good he was with his hands and worked in the cotton fields. At age 23 he secured "poor and rocky land" from the town banker who employed his father. Waters worked hard to grow cotton on the land and had to ration himself for meals. At age 26 he saved enough money to build his own house. He ended up owning his own farm of 300 acres and more than 150 acres were in cultivation. He credits all his success to his wife and God by thanking God multiple times a day for the life he was given. The poorer whites were very racist towards Waters and bitter about his wealth. He was always afraid of the retaliation of white people against him for having a good living. Therefore, he would keep his money in the bank instead of having a nice car, or clothes. Waters overcame the hardship in his life and had credit in Talladega Springs and Sylacauga. He always stayed humble and valued the importance of hard work every day of his life. "He never let his money go to his head."

Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow laws legalized racism towards African Americans and treated them as less than. They kept African Americans from having equal opportunities in life such as jobs and education. These laws occurred during 1877 to mid 1960s. The laws were based on beliefs that “whites were superior to blacks in all important ways, including but not limited to intelligence, morality, and civilized behavior.” Examples of these laws were African Americans and whites couldn’t eat together, African Americans couldn’t show public affection, they had to use separate water fountains, go to separate schools, and use separate hospitals. African Americans who violated Jim Crow laws risked their lives and jobs because the criminal justice system was all white.

Anti-Black Racism and NAACP
In the early 1900’s there was an "increased racial divide" between African Americans and whites. Lynching's, segregation, and white supremacy was seen against African Americans. Racial identity and racism shaped the structure of life which affected African Americans occupation opportunities. These occupations were socially accepted by whites due to the power and control it gave them. Restrictions were put in place to make African Americans feel inferior. In 1909 The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed to put an end to anti-black violence such as lynching and create equal opportunities. In 1917 they created an anti-lynching campaign and had a silent march in New York to protest. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the association "played a key role in the civil rights movement." In 1954 Brown v. Board of Education outlawed segregation in public schools. “The group won major legal victories and had more than 2,200 branches and some half a million member.”

Land Ownership During the 1900's
Land ownership “peaked in 1910 at 16-19 million acres” based on the census of agriculture. It gave African Americans a “sense of independence and power.” Having access to land was crucial for them to have a better life. Black farmers who succeeded, preserved through racial discrimination by having self-determination. Owning land, “served as a material and symbolic asset in building shared identity.” It gave them financial security and a sense of freedom to control their occupation instead of being controlled. African Americans gained a sense of pride by having something of their own. They were able to feed their families and provide a good life. Owning land gave them a place to call home versus being a sharecropper and not having roots.