When We Were Colored
by Clifton L. Taulbert
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Tells the story of growing up in the segregation-era South, in a community that faced adversity and held together with amazing dignity and grace.Tags
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This book is not the story of Freemount and the years when blacks owned the land. It is the story of a mostly landless people, the coloreds, who lived in Glen Allan and other small southern towns during the last years of segregation. I have written it to recall a treasure more valuable and enduring than land ownership. It is the treasure that stood out in my colored childhood when there was so little else, and it has been a source of strength to me in all the years since then. That treasure is the nourishing love that came to me from my extended family of aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, neighbors, and friends... They are the reason I want today's world to remember an era that in our haste we might show more mistakenly forget—that era when we were called colored.
Although I understand that the author was looking back with fondness at his childhood and the community that raised him, I was uncomfortable with his acceptance of, and almost nostalgia for, a time when blacks were oppressed. His pride on the day he is first able to pick 200 lbs. of cotton, his happiness at having two white boys as almost-friends, and his love for his Poppa as he waits at a stop sign until all the white drivers have gone first were all scenes that made me cringe. But the author's point, that he was happy despite segregation, has more to do with the resilience of his family and community than with acceptance of bad treatment. Raised first by his grandfather and then his great-aunt, his childhood was the epitome of "it takes a village." His portrayals of the people in his past are compassionate and generous, and he only has kind things to say, which is in itself a reflection of how he was raised. An interesting glimpse into the 1950s American South for this Northern reader. show less
Although I understand that the author was looking back with fondness at his childhood and the community that raised him, I was uncomfortable with his acceptance of, and almost nostalgia for, a time when blacks were oppressed. His pride on the day he is first able to pick 200 lbs. of cotton, his happiness at having two white boys as almost-friends, and his love for his Poppa as he waits at a stop sign until all the white drivers have gone first were all scenes that made me cringe. But the author's point, that he was happy despite segregation, has more to do with the resilience of his family and community than with acceptance of bad treatment. Raised first by his grandfather and then his great-aunt, his childhood was the epitome of "it takes a village." His portrayals of the people in his past are compassionate and generous, and he only has kind things to say, which is in itself a reflection of how he was raised. An interesting glimpse into the 1950s American South for this Northern reader. show less
I've had this book for years and just got around to reading it and I have to say, I was honestly surprised.
I found this book to be well written, full of detail and rich in history. Many of the things written in here I had never heard of, they were never taught in school or shown on the t.v. specials and I'm more than happy that I was able to read this book, look at the images and take away a piece of history that has been too long ignored yet not forgotten.
When We Were Colored doesn't focus on the Civil Rights movements like most history based stories do. Instead in focuses on what Black Americans did during their day to day lives, how they lived in spite of all that was going on around.
When We Were Colored is a positive book about show more the history of Black Americans that deserves to be acknowledge and placed in our history books as simply part of our American history-nothing more and nothing less. show less
I found this book to be well written, full of detail and rich in history. Many of the things written in here I had never heard of, they were never taught in school or shown on the t.v. specials and I'm more than happy that I was able to read this book, look at the images and take away a piece of history that has been too long ignored yet not forgotten.
When We Were Colored doesn't focus on the Civil Rights movements like most history based stories do. Instead in focuses on what Black Americans did during their day to day lives, how they lived in spite of all that was going on around.
When We Were Colored is a positive book about show more the history of Black Americans that deserves to be acknowledge and placed in our history books as simply part of our American history-nothing more and nothing less. show less
I'm bothered by the teacher who rated this two stars and won't use this in their classroom because it's not about segregation and injustice per se. They complain it's more personal. Well, isn't that the best way to reach students? Make them feel a sympathy, and then an empathy, with real ppl, rather than just shove abstract history at them? I know that I learned a heck of a lot from reading [b:Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years|792938|Having Our Say The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years|Sarah L. Delany|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403192701l/792938._SY75_.jpg|1240854] when I was young.
And so far as complaining about different characters named Ma Pearl, Ma Ponk,and Mama. Really, show more you can't tell who is who? I'm glad this is on openlibrary.org and I hope to read it soon. It is short. show less
And so far as complaining about different characters named Ma Pearl, Ma Ponk,and Mama. Really, show more you can't tell who is who? I'm glad this is on openlibrary.org and I hope to read it soon. It is short. show less
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11+ Works 708 Members
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- Canonical title
- When We Were Colored
- Original title
- Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored
- Original publication date
- 1989
- Related movies
- Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995 | IMDb)
- Dedication
- Dedicated to...
My son, Marshall Danzy who thinks "colored" means crayolas.
My daughter, Anne Kathryn who was born the day after I made my first excerpt public reading.
My wife, Barbara Ann who endured my early dawn ... (show all)writing habits.
My mother, Mary Taulbert, a strong lady with a definite sense of purpose.
The memory of my aunt, Elna Peters Boose (Ma Ponk), who raised me; an original colored lady.
My four sisters and two brothers: Claudette, Clara, Carolyn, Connie, Claiborne, Johnny. - First words
- Long ago when southern plantations were plentiful and colored sharecroppers still dreamed and the agrarian South was making a significant contribution to the gross national product, small southern towns were springing up almo... (show all)st daily with designs on becoming southern ladies of commerce.
Introduction: It was a beautiful October day in the 1970s. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)With the security of family fading out of sight, I clung to the promises I had heard all my life from those who had nurtured me in Glen Allan, once upon a time when we were colored.
- Blurbers
- William Raspberry; Rosemary Bray; Barbara Weathers
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- Originally published in the US as Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, 1995.
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- Members
- 238
- Popularity
- 136,244
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.38)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 6
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 2
