Nana Biography

The Vietnam war was just horrible for me. I know it was for everybody. I’m not saying that, but it, I get terribly affected by things like that. Tonight, as you know, on the TV, it’s the 10th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s death. And they showed pictures of him talking and everything. Well, I can hardly speak about it, so I am as tenderhearted as you can be about people like that, and so I wonder what it was…

Do you think there was something in your mom said how was she?

Well, she came down to the south, being an Easterner, as you know, and, maybe you know, when some intruder comes into the south, you have to watch your  p’s and q’s to be accepted.  And she was accepted she was attractive, and her husband was part of a very good group there, and so she was. But knowing how to talk to blacks with something she had to learn. And she never really could cope with them. Talking from the Southerners point of view. She never knew how to handle it, as my father said, the kitchen. Well, I don’t think she was as soft hearted as, I was. I would go to the movies and ball my head off, and she would sort of snicker at me.

So she sort of noticed your sentiments?

Yes, I’m very sensitive, and easily upset, and very emotional.

And did you feel different from time to time and that way? Were you aware of not just politically but somehow feeling different?

Yes! I really did, I really felt that. And I felt a little about it, about my father, I really didn’t respect him inside, I had to show it on the surface, but I really didn’t respect him for his ways.

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