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Gibson, Nellie (audio interview #2 of 2)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This second interview with Gibson, which is only 45 minutes long, is of better audio quality than the first, although voices can still be heard in the background. Although the details of her church activities are very sketchy, the interview nevertheless is an example of the role church activities played in the lives of Black women. 3/13/1974
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- 2021-03-18
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- *** File: refngibson2.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-0:53)... When she moved to California in 1944, she worked at a cafe for approximately one year. She then worked as a custodian at Harbor General Hospital for 14 years. Her second husband, with whom she lived in California, started working for the City of Los Angeles, continuing with them for thirty years. (0:53-3:05)... Her grandmother was the mother of sixteen children. Gibson describes a typical day as a child, indicating that during the summer she rose at 4:00 a.m., ate breakfast, went to school, and then came home and worked in the fields. During the winter months, she worked in the fields all day. She went to church every Sunday with her grandmother. (3:05-6:10)... In 1936, she married her second husband in Louisiana. They moved to California in 1944 and she discusses her husband's work. She went to work for the hospital in 1947 and left in 1962. (6:10-16:03)... She describes church as her hobby and refers to herself as one of the pillars of the church to which she belongs. Her activities include the choir and the Willing Workers Club (though the specifics of these activities are not detailed). She switches topics and talks about her knowledge of contraceptive methods. The first time she learned about the birth control pill was when she began working at the hospital in 1947. In discussing her attitudes about women's status in society, she disputes the idea that a woman's proper place is in the home. She believes that there are many opportunities for women to work. However, there are certain occupations that are not suited to women's bodies. Her view of humanity is that people are all the same regardless of their skin color. She raised her daughter in a religious atmosphere and believes it is important for a mother to teach her children the word of God. She does not agree with scolding children, but rather thinks they should be taught and trained. As a young woman, she was very dedicated to the church and was not a "party girl;" she very rarely attended dances and was always chaperoned during dates. (16:03-23:26)... Note: there is an interruption in the recording in this segment Gibson describes the early remedies used to cure ailments, indicating that herbs, roots, and teas were common medicines. She lived in the country in Louisiana where, typically, there was only one doctor in the area. All of the women gave birth in their homes with the assistance of either a doctor or a midwife. She describes some of her typical responsibilities while living on a farm in Louisiana, and then talks about moving to Los Angeles, comparing it and Louisiana. (23:26-29:55)... Gibson's family quilted, and made all of their own blankets. Her grandmother was born and raised in a log cabin. Gibson lived with her grandmother and grew up alongside her aunts and uncles, many of whom were close in age. (29:55-31:55)... She describes the cities in which she lived when she moved to California and discusses the changes in Compton, indicating that it was traditionally a mixed White and Mexican population, but became a primarily Black area. (31:55-39:57)... One of her responsibilities while living on the farm was peeling corn and making cornmeal. She describes this process and the other types of foods prepared for consumption. They very rarely purchased items from the store. She recalls her childhood with fondness, and describes some of her experiences being raised on a farm. In general, her grandmother did not cook very much because her sixteen children did most of the work for her. Gibson names all of her aunts and uncles, indicating that only two of her grandmother's children died at childbirth. end of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - Nellie Gibson moved to Los Angeles from Louisiana in 1944 and worked as a custodian at Harbor General Hospital for the next fourteen years. She became a founding member and pillar of her church and centered her activities there. Although her social reform work is not greatly detailed, her interview does serve as an example of the critical role that the church played in the life of a poor Black woman. TOPICS - life in California; work; family background; childhood; education; religion; children; birth control; women's roles; medicine; quilting; rural living; and food preparation;
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