June 2011 ~ ALBANY, GA
Nope. Not talking about the infamous Harlem in New York City, but rather its namesake 1000 miles south in Albany, GA. It’s hot as the dickens that day, but nice and comfortable inside the barbershop on the corner of W. Highland and S. Jackson Streets in this historic district. When you open the door, the little bell rings, just as you’d expect it to. That day in June I learned that this is where my late dad went for hair cuts for well over 40 years, and I finally crossed the threshold last June while home researching the novel.
I introduce myself to the owner and head barber, Eugene Bailey, (he goes by Boo Jean) and ask him, “I’m Silas Jones’ baby girl…did you happen to know my dad?” He smiles, “Oh yeah!…we always knew we was gon’ have a good time whenever Silas walked through the door!” Turns out Boo Jean was my dads barber for years. What a legacy, I say to myself, even 13 years after his death, my dad evokes a genuine smile at the very mention of his name.
Set in the concrete of the Jackson Street sidewalk in front of the barbershop, bronze foot steps head north, perpetually retracing the route of the December 1961 civil rights march from Shiloh Baptist Church to City Hall. Dr. King spoke at Shiloh that night which marked the start of the Albany Movement.
After interviewing Boo Jean, I park myself in a chair by the window, watching and listening as customers come and go. I fully get that there are many stories from my dad’s bi-monthly visits that Boo Jean cannot share—the “divine conversation” [aka gossip] between men in the barbershop is sacred. (And let’s face it…mosta that stuff I don’t even wanna know!)
So, as he shaves the head of a young man in his chair, Boo Jean respectfully keeps to stories of his youth—50 years ago—working in the Albany Movement: the marches and arrests; the awful food and treatment while in jail; the things young black folk take for granted today because he and others fought for them in the 60s…and…the wonderful vintage Coca~Cola ice chest he still has in the back of the shop (not working—and though he gets offers constantly—he’ll NEVER part with it).
Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures of Chance, the veteran shoe shine expert who shares the shop with Boo Jean, but you can bet I wrote characters based on both of them. Can’t give away too much more except to say: Thank you, Boo Jean for the stories and for your part in history.
Now ~ I’ll let these pictures say the rest…
All photos by Anita Jones © 2011
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Your article made me want to go into the places here in Marin where my parents spent time. There are so few left, although they remain so clear in my mind. The fix it shop in downtown Mill Valley where the owner had pin-up girls all over the walls and I was to wait outside while Dad picked up the repaired toaster. Or the attendants rushing out to clean the windshield at the corner filling station with their stiff little hats. The funny thing is, without writing it down it dies with me. What a very sad thought. You on the other hand, inspire me to write. You, and your poignant descriptions move me. Thank you.
Carolyn…so glad you’re finding inspiration here. Now go out there and grab those memories! You’ve peeked my interest with YOUR descriptions.
Sooo wonderful!!! This IS our lives! I am so loving reading this! Please . . . More, more, more! 425 Hazard Drive! Hazard Lab. School! A&P! ASC Homecoming Parade! Jimmy Hot Dog Stand! James E. Strait Fair! James Crawford Bar-b-Que! Carver Jr. High School! Such great memories, such rich history! I cannot wait until the book is published! Call me anytime for memories!
And who better to provide memories than you, Gwen…my classmate from grades 1-7 at Hazard Laboratory school! You can remember what dress you wore the day in first grade when somebody left a black olive under the table in the lunch room and we ALL had to pay the price! Maybe I should blog about THAT!? Thanks for coming by..stay tuned!
Thanks for the memories. Harlem aka (“Mudpuddle”), as it is known now by the younger generation is the heart and soul of Albany. So many memories as a young boy growing up there.
Thanks for dropping by, Gary! Don’t be a stranger to the blog!
Thanks for the memories of Harlem; Mudd puddle, Nasty Sallys Resturant, The cab lines, Mr Cochram photo studio. I remember being a lil young girl walking with my grand mother ms. Bell Graybill aka “The paper lady” selling the SouthWest Georgian weekly newpaper. Albany State homecoming parade with Monroe, Southside & Carver marching bands in it. So many memories over 40 + years.
Rosalind, I never knew about “Mud Puddle”! Will have to add that to the novel…Thanks!
Ros,
I sold the Southwest Georgian as a kid and I remember Ms. Bell like it was yesterday. She outsold everybody and had customers all over the place I never could figure out how she did it and I’m riding a bicycle all over town. She was a sweet lady. Small world indeed.
Thanks a lot Anita, very good description of what we use to refer to as Harlem, Ga. As a kid reading about New York fascinated ,knowing that we had own tiny version of Harlem. Also when my cousins came from Atlanta and started bragging that Atlanta was the capitol of Ga. I would always comeback with well Albany is the capitol of New York , ha. For a time I thought it was true never knowing there was a place named Albany, New York, silly me . Anyhow had a blast in Harlem years ago. I was at Shiloh one day when Dr. King and Jackie Robinson were both in attendance. They had a motorcade from the airport that came right by front porch on Newton Road. It may have been the same day when the one and only time in my life I marched in the civil rights movement. We marched and went by city hall with police and reporters with big cigars hanging from their mouths, very scary. I thought they were going to march into the jail which was the way they rolled back then, but they didn’t and I was so relieved. When we got bact to the church someone yelled let’s go back again, it was getting dark so my niece Linda and I decided against going back. When we walked in front door at home my grandmother said y’all been marching haven’t you. We put on our sad faces and said yes. She said you are too young, don’t do it again.Also the second march, maybe 150 people went to jail, so there you go. But anyhow Anita that’s my memory of my hometown. I too live in the bay area and have lived here for 33 years now. Peace be with you and I look forward to the book. Much love Fonzo
Thanks for coming by, Fonzo and sharing your rich memories. I hope you’ll come back! Love your stories.
Thanks for the memories, I too grew up in Albany and remember Harlem, going to the Ritz Theater Jimmy’s Hot Dog Stand so again thanks for the memories. Where can I get a copy of the book?
Regina,
The book has yet to be published; I’m learning how hard it is to write a novel the RIGHT way! Keep following this blog and you’ll be among the first to know! I am shooting for 2015!
Somewhere in Albany, there was a lil boy who rode a bike from Marylands fried chicken on east Oglethorpe and the Union Baptist Church across the Flint River Bridge selling the Southwest Georgian newspaper to all points in between until he got to Slappy Drive,. That was me, lol