I always have Dreams about Charlotte, NC (of course, when I'm in Charlotte, I have dreams about Atlanta). Just mundane random stuff. My favorite is driving over this overpass overlooking a park with kids playing, weather being chilly and wet, and the sky scrappers just around the corner. Sometimes, I have time flash backs where it is Christmas in 1958 and a couple with young kids are celebrating with friends. Yeah, I'm influenced by shows or events that happened there as well.
My favorite is where in the midst of a party of a supposed happy family, you see tension but you don't know why? I go to this room and see a older teen-age boy stoned quiet with his younger sister whimpering. The year is around the early 1960's. My mind is like what is going on here but it never gives me the answer. That is what many of these scenarios do for me. Slyvia Plath and Anne Sexton images hit me when it comes to those times. I remember a sentence from Betty Feezor's book about her kids wanting her to stop yelling and she felt that she didn't but promised to follow their advice.
When I lived there, I walk by graves and read about them from newspaper microfilms. Highways that ruined neighborhoods in Charlotte. I think of a couple: one from Central and the other from First Ward meeting secretly in the early 40's. A Greek family living in the late 19th century to the late 20th century. Charlotte's own version of Geisha girls who weren't allowed to go to temple, churches, businesses, or other functions but always served the men behind close doors at all times in all decades.
Children failing in classrooms in the 00's, 10's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's. Some Parents understanding but worried. Others impatient and abusive. Most angry and resentful. Scholars and successful types. Cliques and groups. Laziness and ambitiousness. Jealousy and resentments washed away as new wave of people come in. Gossip and churches. Kids wanting to rebel and develop racial views to fit their peers or push their family anger towards others. Dorothy Counts comes to mind.
I think about loneliness a lot. Family working behind the scenes of the city to feed their family and paying bills while maintaining a calm frontier front. Domestic arguments and violence. Women not wanting to go to work in the 50's because she wanted to fit the 50's housewife stereotype but her man had trouble with booze and left the family (Most claim that the husband died or left). Children is all they can help so say the social worker. Some are truly happy no matter what, they got each other and that is all they need, no front needed.
What do I know? Just images that flash in my head. Nobody lives where they grew up except for visit. Some tell me that nothing has changed. One thing bothered me: Betty criticized other families in how they raised their kids but did they criticize in how she raised their's? My point why can't get you work together instead of constantly proving yourself to each other since you claim to be "God's children." But religious people are not exactly saints either. TV doesn't help either. The point is: you are boxed in like everybody else with little time to spare. When your contribution is done, no one remembers you but the building and its time for you to save.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Gus Roberts
This is a poem inspired about a student who integrated the Charlotte, NC public school system. It isn't necessarily about him.
GUYS LIKE GUS?
Central High: slipping the through cracks
Lost in intensity: the city’s bleached wax
It was 1957: wanted to play pool
Daddy Mommy; wanted me at school
Carolina Tar Heel: struck me in the ass
Sit in the back: away from the class
“Wait then scream rape” Girls, say: I’m boring:
“Bait or see Jail” Guys, say: I’m nothing
Football team and Principal protect me from herd
Went to prom on a separate cord with some curd
Graduated on time: no fare to roam
Family to friends: no place to hum
Guys like Gus, flies & tries
Guys like Gus, mourn & worn
Guys like Gus, pitied and witted on X-mas
Central High: living through tracks
Hovering the intensity: at the city’s beat tax
It was 1992: can’t play the fool
Mommy & daddy; kept me at school
Carolina Blue; is all over my ass
Lying in front: away from the past
“Wait and scream rape” Girls, say: sorry
“Bait and see jail” Guys, say: lordy
Visitors and gatekeepers protected me from harm
Went to Rom on a constructed card with no charm
Reincarnated on-line; my faire to roam
Brothers to sisters; my place to bum
Guys like Gus, tries & dies;
Guys like Gus, worn & scorn;
Guys like Gus, witted and kidded on X-mas
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
GUYS LIKE GUS?
Central High: slipping the through cracks
Lost in intensity: the city’s bleached wax
It was 1957: wanted to play pool
Daddy Mommy; wanted me at school
Carolina Tar Heel: struck me in the ass
Sit in the back: away from the class
“Wait then scream rape” Girls, say: I’m boring:
“Bait or see Jail” Guys, say: I’m nothing
Football team and Principal protect me from herd
Went to prom on a separate cord with some curd
Graduated on time: no fare to roam
Family to friends: no place to hum
Guys like Gus, flies & tries
Guys like Gus, mourn & worn
Guys like Gus, pitied and witted on X-mas
Central High: living through tracks
Hovering the intensity: at the city’s beat tax
It was 1992: can’t play the fool
Mommy & daddy; kept me at school
Carolina Blue; is all over my ass
Lying in front: away from the past
“Wait and scream rape” Girls, say: sorry
“Bait and see jail” Guys, say: lordy
Visitors and gatekeepers protected me from harm
Went to Rom on a constructed card with no charm
Reincarnated on-line; my faire to roam
Brothers to sisters; my place to bum
Guys like Gus, tries & dies;
Guys like Gus, worn & scorn;
Guys like Gus, witted and kidded on X-mas
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
The story about Betty Feezor
WHO IS BETTY FEEZOR?
Betty Feezor was a Television presenter in Charlotte, NC USA. Betty’s specialty was cooking and home decorations to housewives around the Carolinas. Her southern, accent monologue and manner became the trademark of its popularity. The Betty Feezor show ran from 1953-1977 on WBTV Charlotte during weekdays at 1 p.m. It was the first local show to be video-recorded in color on Sept. 5, 1958.
She was born on Feb. 17, 1925 in Texarkana, Texas where her father John Buford Daniels was a county agent. Due to her father’s graduate studies and work, she lived in Texarkana, Fayetteville and Little Rock, Arkansas. Attended Texas State College for Women before transferring to the University of Tennessee where she got a degree in home economics.
She was a home demonstration agent first in Maryville, TN, then in Salisbury, NC, and later in Greensboro, NC. It was there she met and married Turner Cole Feezor, a farm equipment salesman through his sister. Together they had 3 children: Betty Cole, John, and Robert. In Greensboro, a TV station asked for her cooking and home expertise.
Due to Turner’s job, she moved to Charlotte and worked for 4-H Clubs and Girl Scouts while remaining as a housewife. The general manager from the Greensboro TV station told WBTV about her work and how she looked comfortable in front of the camera. Eventually, she landed her own show which became popular. She interviewed many celebrities such as Rose Kennedy.
Betty passed away on February 28, 1978 after being diagnosed with cancer in 1977. A diary about her battle with cancer was published in 1979 called “A Life That Mattered.” A scholarship is named in her honor. Elected to North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1982.
This is a poem that I wrote about trying to find this videotape. I contacted universities, tv stations, and her friends and family if a videotape was possible. Though pleasant at times; most of them were in distrust mode and were wondering why I even care for someone who existed a long time ago.
Dear Momma Feasor---
Your kids sect me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Your friends hurt me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Why can’t mothers, be your kin.
Perfect for all.
An angel to stall.
Not everyone is keen as thee.
Don’t want a raise a latch to be
Dear Momma Feasor ---
Virginia hates me.
Momma Feasor
The Queen rejects me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Why can’t MP’s, believe you can.
Stand for all.
Model for Hall.
Not everyone’s phony as we.
Do want a place of high Cree.
Dear Momma Feaser ----
You’re not here
Momma Feaser ----
You’re not real
Dear Momma Feaser ----
Don’t be a Teaser
Dear Betty Feezor----
Dear Betty Feezor---
Dear Betty Feezor----
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
Betty Feezor was a Television presenter in Charlotte, NC USA. Betty’s specialty was cooking and home decorations to housewives around the Carolinas. Her southern, accent monologue and manner became the trademark of its popularity. The Betty Feezor show ran from 1953-1977 on WBTV Charlotte during weekdays at 1 p.m. It was the first local show to be video-recorded in color on Sept. 5, 1958.
She was born on Feb. 17, 1925 in Texarkana, Texas where her father John Buford Daniels was a county agent. Due to her father’s graduate studies and work, she lived in Texarkana, Fayetteville and Little Rock, Arkansas. Attended Texas State College for Women before transferring to the University of Tennessee where she got a degree in home economics.
She was a home demonstration agent first in Maryville, TN, then in Salisbury, NC, and later in Greensboro, NC. It was there she met and married Turner Cole Feezor, a farm equipment salesman through his sister. Together they had 3 children: Betty Cole, John, and Robert. In Greensboro, a TV station asked for her cooking and home expertise.
Due to Turner’s job, she moved to Charlotte and worked for 4-H Clubs and Girl Scouts while remaining as a housewife. The general manager from the Greensboro TV station told WBTV about her work and how she looked comfortable in front of the camera. Eventually, she landed her own show which became popular. She interviewed many celebrities such as Rose Kennedy.
Betty passed away on February 28, 1978 after being diagnosed with cancer in 1977. A diary about her battle with cancer was published in 1979 called “A Life That Mattered.” A scholarship is named in her honor. Elected to North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1982.
This is a poem that I wrote about trying to find this videotape. I contacted universities, tv stations, and her friends and family if a videotape was possible. Though pleasant at times; most of them were in distrust mode and were wondering why I even care for someone who existed a long time ago.
Dear Momma Feasor---
Your kids sect me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Your friends hurt me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Why can’t mothers, be your kin.
Perfect for all.
An angel to stall.
Not everyone is keen as thee.
Don’t want a raise a latch to be
Dear Momma Feasor ---
Virginia hates me.
Momma Feasor
The Queen rejects me.
Dear Momma Feasor
Why can’t MP’s, believe you can.
Stand for all.
Model for Hall.
Not everyone’s phony as we.
Do want a place of high Cree.
Dear Momma Feaser ----
You’re not here
Momma Feaser ----
You’re not real
Dear Momma Feaser ----
Don’t be a Teaser
Dear Betty Feezor----
Dear Betty Feezor---
Dear Betty Feezor----
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
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