MY BLACKITY-BLACK CALI HISTORY
* DREAMS ARE WISHES THAT MAY COME TRUE *
As we drove past Modesto I savored the cool crisp April Air swirling around and exhilarating us with the top down. I took a deep breath and exhaled deeply emptying my lungs and filling them again.
I looked over at Cha Cha who was taking his assignment as my driver seriously...he looked over at me with that mischievous twinkle in his dark brown eyes.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing just thinking how great it is to be Alive so many of our Generation have made their Transitions. I'm not taking any day for granted anymore."
"And we shouldn't ever do that." He winked as a broad smile lit his handsome brown face.
On the way to a small town Winton California where I was to interview the Oldest Black Married Couple Birdie & Bubba Smith ...he was 101 and she was 98 talk about longevity.
I was slowly completing the tasks on my Bucket List with the assistance of Cha Cha I had no fears of traveling Cali and interviewing targeted small towns which were at one time predominately Black. I knew he was willing and capable of protecting me if need be.
The fact that my Grandma Annie had lived in Allensworth California an All Black Town established in early 1900's had fueled my ever vivid imagination.
"There's the sign up ahead for the Exit we're getting close."
"I see it Babe."
I would not have felt safe doing this alone and was happy Cha Cha volunteered to be my Driver & Body Guard...I knew he was up for the Mission.
We took the exit and drove through the small community on our way to the country side where the Smiths had lived since the fifties when they migrated here from Alabama.
"Man do I have some great questions as over the years they were marinating in my brain."
"I know you do."
"And I hope the Smiths feel comfortable enough to also share the hard stuff."
"I know they will because you have a way about you that puts folks at ease."
We turned on the road to their house that could be seen in the distance and my heart beat a little faster...Cha Cha reached over and grabbed my hand and held it.
"You got this Babe," Cha Cha whispered in my ear.
The Smiths were sitting on their porch waiting...Bubba was dressed in overalls and a straw cowboy hat. He rose and walked over to greet us.
Cha Cha ever the Gentleman hopped out and opened my door taking my hand we approached the porch.
"Welcome Welcome glad you made it safely, "Bubba greeted us with a warm smile on his bronze weathered face.
"Glad to be here." I replied. Cha Cha helped me up the steps and shook hands with Bubba.
"So happy you made it." Birdie spoke. She was a small brown-complexioned lady with thick gray hair pulled back into a bun. She also wore a pair of overalls.
There was a pitcher of Lemonade and four mason jar goblets on the table.
Birdie poured a glass for me and Cha Cha.
"I got something a little stronger if you like." She winked at Cha Cha who chuckled at the remark.
"We're good." I responded.
"Beautiful place y'all got here." I looked around.
"Yes we fought hard to get it and to keep it." Bubba declared.
His expression became serious asking where we wanted to start.
"How about how you met Birdie is that a nickname?" I suggested.
Again Bubba smiled and answered in a deep hoarse voice, "Ahhh...I met this beauty when she was sixteen all the boys were after her. She was a skinny little thing so they called her Birdie short for 'bird legs'. They both laughed boisterously.
Only skinny girls could relate to that description.
"Yes sir. Remember when Joe Tex had that song out 'Who Will Take The Lady With The Skinny Legs?" You know that was a real thing in the Black Community. Us Skinn-ee girls still mad about that one. "
"Good times!" Cha Cha joined in the laughter. "Yeah Brothers like them big-legged girls."
I pulled out my small tape recorder and sat it on the table.
"Let's get started then." I pushed the red record button.
"Tell us Mr Smith how you ended up here?"
*******************
"Well now after I won Birdie's heart and married her we decided to come out here along with three other young couples. It was so hard at first but we were used to tough times."
Birdie nodded in agreement.
"It was hard to find work and Jim Crow was in full effect. The saving grace was that farming was booming and the farmers needed farm hands OR they would lose their crop."
"We stayed to ourselves and only ventured into town for necessities food etc. And we always went in groups these Hillbillies didn't need no excuse to Lynch a Black Man." Bubba's friendly demeanor was gone replaced by a strong fierceness.
He cleared his throat and stared at the ceiling.
Birdie took over in a emotion-laden voice sprinkled with a Southern accent.
"When we arrived here in 1951 about a year previous they had Lynched a Black Man [Clyde Johnson] and hung his body from a telephone pole in front of the local schoolhouse." She paused.
"I don't believe I'm familiar with that one." I remarked. Cha Cha perked up.
"Yes maam folks believed California was the Land of Freedom at the time. Truth Be Told these 'California Crackers' was just as Racist! We had to be on guard at all times." Birdie looked to Bubba.
"We armed ourselves and created a defense group within our small circle...Black Panthers didn't have nuttin' on us!" Bubba spouted.
I was Shook AND Impressed!
"There was a big cover-up that boy's Lynching...local paper wanted to report on it wasn't gonna happen the newspaper building burnt down...nothing was written about it and the Locals denied that it ever happened!" Birdie exclaimed.
"But those red-neck cowards did not mess with us other than to shout out 'Nigger' sometimes when they saw us in town."
Me and Cha Cha realized the Significance of this Incident...I got Goosebumps that prickled from my Head to my Toes.
Bubba hopped up and did a little James Brown-ish Jigg singing out, "I'm still pretty Spry for an Old Guy!"
The mood lightened a bit as we laughed at Bubba's antics.
The time flew by as we listened to Birdie and Bubba tell their oh-so-colorful history in early California. The fact that Love still burned brightly in their eyes was heart-warming. Their Love had indeed stood the Test of Time and Beyond.
I glanced at Cha Cha who studied them closely while smiling at me...Butterflies danced in my tummy.
"What part of Alabama did you all live before coming here?"
"Oh yeah we lived in Mooresville mostly Black Folks when we were there not sure about now though." Bubba informed us.
"I suspect it has not changed don't know anyone still there." Birdie added.
Bubba had a look of concentration on his face and he looked to Birdie then me.
I had told the story of how my grandparents helped settle Allensworth California an 'All Black Town' in Central Cali back in the 40's. Bubba said they knew of a few of the Black Families who migrated there. I was Proud to tell the Story of Colonel Allan Allensworth a Brave Black Hero.
"Young lady what did you say is your last name?"
I hadn't. Bubba and now Birdie were watching me closely.
"Chaney."
Bubba snapped his finger.
"That's it Birdie!"
"When you spoke of Allensworth something tugged at my Memory..now I know why." He paused to gather his thoughts.
"In our family a story was passed down about two Black Brothers who were Slaves and fought in the Civil War with their Owner."
Birdie looked at Bubba and then Me with recognition on her face.
"Story goes after the South lost the War the two brothers were on the way back home with their Owner."
I jumped up from my seat and looked at Cha Cha who was on the edge of his seat.
"On the trip back home they were Ambushed by Marauders. The Two Brave Brothers died while protecting their Owner."
"Heroes!" I declared.
"Do you know...their...names? I asked heart beating faster.
"Twins...Troy and Coy Chaney."
I had an Uncle Troy and Cuzzin Coy.
I screeched and jumped up and down. The three watched me fascinated.
I related how that story was passed down in my family too but when I researched it I could not substantiate it.
"Do you know the spelling of their last name? I asked.
"C-H-A-N-E-Y."
I knew it!
"Do you know why?"
"Because at that time to distinguish between Black Folks and White folks the spelling was Different. White Folks with the same name spelled it C-H-E-N-E-Y."
"And that still holds True today." I learned that covert detail during my research.
The new information was exciting it meant somehow I was related to the Smiths...I Loved it!
I solved a Long Time detail of the Chaney Family Tree and vowed to tell the story.
We wrapped up our interview and got ready to leave. Bubba and Birdie hugged Me and Cha Cha both.
As we turned to leave I heard Bubba whisper to Birdie.
"Do these two remind you of anyone Love?"
"Yes they do." Birdie answered with a giggle.
EPILOGUE
I constructed this story from a Dream I recently had and it stayed with me nagging to be told. It's a Dream/Story based on real events of that time in California.