WILLIE

I lived in souther Alabama in the 70's. I grew up in the Midwest and this was the first time I had ever lived any place else. I have to say, it was totally different than any experience I had ever had befor. I was the Department head of the blood distribution for the American Red Cross. We serviced, Alabama, Mississippi, parts of Georgia and parts of Florida. I had two paid employees and 12 volunteers to help get things done. In the blood division of the Red Cross, there were a total of four departments. They were, those who drew the blood(R.N.'s), those who processed the blood(lab tech's), and the maintenance department, beside my department=distribution of the blood. The maintenance department was right next to my department.
When I started working there, I noticed that only African-Americans were in the maintenance department and one of my salaried workers. The entire Red Cross was white except for those who worked in maintenance and my employee. I also was very embarrassed, when Mr. Wille Davis, who was the department head of the maintenance department, would call me "Miss Jody"!
I felt as though I had been transported back to the fifties, with the blatant prejudice that I observed. I also noticed, that every single person in the Red Cross building, called him Willie! The heads of every other deprtment, were addressed by, Mr., Miss, or Doctor, but not the head of the all black maintenance department! I was angry, and sort of scared. I wondered how people whose' chosen professions, were to help people, could be so disrespectful to one of their own co-workers. The men who worked under Willie Davis, were referred to as "boys", no matter how old they were. I was also amazed that the maintenance staff ate in a different part of the building, than the rest of the staff. The whole dynamic of the inference of lesser people, was quite subtle, or so, I think they thought. I needed my job, so my only recourse was to show by example. I would eat, at their invitation, with the maintenance staff. I treated everone with respect, and I always referred to Willie Davis and Mr. Davis! I never did get him to stop calling me "Miss Jody" though. I would love to go back and see if they have caught up with the world in the way all people should be treated. I wonder?