It was 1953 and my mother was 30 yrs old with 4 children Robert Moss, Lacarly Cross, Bertha Cross, and Elton Cross and she had enough of the Jim Crow south. She answered an ad for a live-in female domestic for a family living in Hewlett, Long Island, New York. I would ask my mother to tell me the story about how and why she came to New York. The story never changed I was in awe of my mother’s strength, determination, and courage. ” James the ladies I was working for had a daughter that just turned 10yrs old and I was told that I had to start addressing her as Miss Ann. Something in my spirit did sit well with that so, said I will not” It seemed she would always get choked up when she thought about it.
Time to Move
Birmingham was changing and it was getting harder for the blacks with Jim Crow and all I thought Jim Crow was some bad man, she explained to me what Jim Crow was. ” I answered an ad in the local paper where a family living in Hewlett, Long Island was looking for a live-in female domestic to take care of a family of four. I answered the ad and within a week, I was sent a bus ticket for New your, and directions on how to get from the city to Long Island. Take the Long Island railroad to Hewlett station and I was to call once at the station. I told MeMe (My grandmother) that I was offered a job in new york and asked her to watch my children I will send for them once I get established https://youtu.be/v5cCVkbTB2Y.
New York
My mother arrived safely took the Long Island Railroad train to Hewlett station. My mother said that after she arrived all the other housekeepers came over to introduce themesleves They made sure that my mother knew where the ‘Black Foke” hangout. Thursday nights Lawrence Ave would be hopping as a matter of fact all of inwood was the place to be. The first priority for my mother was ro find and join a chruch, She attended and joined St. Johns Baptist Chruch. The chruch would become my second home and that is where I met my closetest and oldest friend Kevin Morton. It didn’t take long for my mother to feel comfortable. At church is where Ma met Aunt Vera. Aunt Vera rented a room to my mother. That friendship would last for 50 years. When those two got together they were like high school girls. Anut Vera called Ma. “Lee” short for Leola. With in a year my mother had managed to bring up my brothers and sister. Six months later she sent for her mother, brother and one cousin.