The Learning Center for Francie Mae’s Blog
My late mom was the strongest woman I knew. This no-nonsense lady guided her five children to success in spite of living in the Jim Crow South. I’m the youngest of five children and remember thinking she was my personal “Fannie Lou Hamer.” We called her MaDear. After MaDear and Dad married, he served in …
Our father loved to write. We called him Dad. He served our country during WWII and after discharge; he did not receive G.I. benefits. We lived in abject poverty in the segregated South. He supported his family by working in cotton fields and as a day laborer. After moving to a military town, he was hired …
Dad was an intelligent man displaced in the Jim Crow South. He served his country during WWII. He was discharged in 1943 and was denied G.I. benefits. He made a cumulative score of 97 on the Civil Service Examination but was denied meaningful employment. He had a wife and five children to provide for, so …
When I was a child, I heard my father calling a pig or hog, Suar. I didn’t know what this word meant. It was not until years later, when I read one of his books, that I learned that this was the name of a foul animal. We couldn’t afford animals, so he went to …
When I was growing up, our parents taught my siblings and me about The Great Depression. We were poor, but that was no excuse not to learn. Our parents earned $3.00 a day chopping cotton in the hot sun during the summer. In the fall, they picked cotton and were paid based on the weight. …
Live Your Best Life! You can choose to succeed in whatever you were meant to be or do. How many times do you meet people who are complaining about what they don’t have instead of enjoying what they do have? There are many opportunities in life. Doors close and windows open. Don’t spend so much …
I grew up in abject poverty. It was a long journey out, but my family and I persevered. Read my memoirs to learn more. www.simplybestreads.com Amazon
Many poor families, including mine, benefitted from the Great Society. These domestic programs were launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and 1965. The main goal was to eliminate racial injustice and poverty. Many new federal programs that addressed medical care, rural poverty, education, transportation, and urban problems were launched during this time. …
Some students may believe they are not financially able to attend a college or university. Fortunately, there are many scholarships available if potential recipients apply for them. When I was a senior in high school, scholarships were limited. I didn’t let that deter me. I was from a poor family, but I was determined …
Like many people in the 60s, I grew up fascinated with the Kennedy family. My favorites were John and Bobby. It didn’t hurt that Bobby and I shared his middle name. His name was spelled with an “i” and mine was with an “e.” I was a little poor girl and thought of the …