Deneshia Walls
AAS 362
June 27, 2011
Interview Two
1. What is your name? Maiden and Marriage
Shavonne Fields-Thigpen
2. Where were you born?
Oakland, California
3. Where did you grow up?
Marks, MS
4. What happened in order for your family to move back to Mississippi?
Her family had to move back to Mississippi because her parents got divorced.
5. What were your parent’s names and occupations?
Mother- Margret Fields Father- Earnest Fields
Mrs. Thigpen was a cook and her father worked food service in a hospital
6. Do you have any siblings? Yes or No, name?
Yes: Their names are Patricia Fields-Rogers, Albert Boyd, and Tiffany Fields-Blackburn
7. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in_______?
Growing up in Marks, Mrs. Thigpen was raised in a single parent home with very strict rules. She also stated that she was very poor and that they rarely seen their mother because she worked two jobs just to provide for her family. Because of this her and her family had to stay with other relatives.
8. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain
Yes: growing up in Marks, she attended an all black school until the 9th grade. Then after that they integrated the schools. She had white friends, but she could only be their friends at school. One day she decided to sneak on her bike and ride on the other side of town where her white friends stayed. When she got there, the white girl’s parents did not say anything racist to her, but said that she should go home because it wasn’t safe for her to be over there by herself. When she got home she got in trouble with her family because they felt that she could have been killed or anything being in that part of town. That’s when she realized that racism was still there.
9. What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the North/South?
Mrs. Thigpen felt that she had an economic setback because her family was so poor. They had to receive all the federal help that they could. She also had many manager positions that both white and black women had a problem with. She was once a manager over two older white ladies and they told her to her face that they didn’t like her or had to listen to her because she was a young black girl. Many black women felt that Mrs. Thigpen thought she was better than them only because of her position, and said that she had to be sleeping with the boss in order for her to get the position she had and not because of her work experience or her work performance.
10. What, if anything, do you remember your parents telling you about race?
Her mom never talked about race, but did state that she had to work twice as hard as a white person to get the same job a white person had.
11. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman?
She instilled into her to do her best in whatever she does.
12. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not?
Yes: to become successful
13. Talk a little about those days…
While in school she was always in an all black school. The teachers were all African Americans except one, which was white, but she never showed any sign of racism. All the teachers there encouraged everyone and tried to uplift them to continue their education because they wanted the students to succeed and finish school.
14. What was it like in school for you as a black female?
It wasn’t bias. Everyone was the same color so she didn’t feel any difference as being a black female.
15. Did you graduate and attend college?
Yes: graduated from high school. Attended North West Community College until became pregnant and had to withdraw. Later attended Strayer University and got her Bachelors in Business.
16. Did you get married? To who? When?
Yes: Terry Thigpen
17. Where you ready to get married or were you forced? How did your parents feel about this?
She felt that she was ready to get married and that Mr. Terry was the right man for her. Her mother felt as long as she was happy and that was the right man for her then she was okay with it.
18. Did you have any children? Yes or NO? How many? Why? Was this a choice or just happened?
Yes: 3 children. All the pregnancies just happened. They were never a choice.
19. Where did you work as an adult?
She worked at a casino and many other factories. She is currently now working at the Panola County Welfare Office.
20. Tell about your adult life and what was it like living as a black woman?
It was a struggle. She had to provide for her family and felt like she had to prove herself to others to let them know that she could make something of herself and take care of her family.
21. Are there any specific stories that you would like to share regarding your adulthood life and being a black woman?
While being a black woman, Mrs. Thigpen has experienced sexual harassment on the job by her boss. She tried not to say anything because she needed her job to provide for her family, but the boss thought it was okay. He felt that he could say anything to her that he pleased and she should just take it and keep her mouth close. Those situations made her upset even more and soon left the job.
22. What were your relationships like with other women? Specifically white and black women.
In some relationships it was great. There weren’t any problems that she had with both race where she have felt uncomfortable. There was a situation with some white women that made her pretty ill. Two white women at work would always come in twenty minutes late with clients waiting on them in the lobby. Nothing was ever said to them. A black woman came in six minutes late on her lunch break and they had an email sent around about a problem with people being late coming from their lunch break. Mrs. Thigpen told the women about themselves and also said something to the manager about things not being fair. Unfortunately, nothing was ever done about this problem.
23. Would you consider yourself friends with white women? Do you have friends that are of another race?
Yes: would consider self friends with white women and also do have friends of another race.
24. What type of relationship do you have with black men?
Mrs. Thigpen stated that she really didn’t like some men. They are very idealistic and she felt this because of her past experiences with men and also the absent of her father.
25. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and what should their role be inside the role be?
She felt like each person should respect the needs and wants of the other person. She also felt that the man/husband should be the leader and the one responsible for other things. They should be the ones that discipline the children as well. The woman/wife should be the helper and the follower. She should also be the nurturer.
26. What do you think about people dating outside of their race?
She felt that in today’s society people are more acceptable to biracial couples, but people should be mindful of how others were raised and that some may not be more acceptable as they are. During her time black people called whites crackers and whites called blacks niggers, therefore; they can’t help how they feel because of the past.
27. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today?
Laziness and also the fact that now many opportunities are equal for both white and black children. White children are encouraged a lot and pushed more to become whatever they want to be, but black African American children don’t receive that from their family members or others. The family may be afraid that if they push them then they will be hit by a problem or situation that will destroy themselves and their career.
28. What advice could you give to young girls today?
Young girls should set their goals, write out a plan and speak to that goal and plan. Soon the plan will change and the goal will stay the same. Also recognize your achievements and reward yourself.
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