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Photo of George Johnson
Credit: Library of Congress
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to the audio recording of this interview.
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Interviewee: George Johnson
Interviewer: Dr. Charles S. Johnson
CSJ: No. That's another car. Well, let me see if there's any question, Mr. Lomax, wants to ask and then I'll be through. [Alan Lomax barely spoke in this interview] You told me this ah stick was Jeff Davis' stick?
GJ: Yeah, master Jeff's own stick. That's master Jeff's stick. [GJ raps his cane as he addresses questions] Yes, sir. Master Jeff's stick. [rap, rap] That's master Jeff's. That's master Jeff's stick that stick [cut (?)] on Brierfield, since I was born. Yes, sir. [an automobile revs its engine]
CSJ: You say Mr. Montgomery gave it to you?
GJ: Yes, sir. He give it to me forty or forty-two years ago. I hurt my foot one day [GJ seems to rock in his chair], say, "Boy come on go in the house get my stick." "What stick is this?" Say, "The old stick here is master Jeff's old stick." Say, "You can have this stick now?" Say, "Alright, cause I'll take care of it." Say, "I'll take care of it." I got it up till today. [raps cane] A man tried to get me sell that stick. Carry it Jackson, sell it. "Give you fifty-dollars." "No, I won't sell it." I keep the memory of master Jeff. Ain't I right?
CSJ: I think you're right.
GJ: I think I'm right. A lady want me to will it to her in Cleveland [Mississippi], down there. Told me to will her the stick before I die for her. I say, "Oh, Mrs. I hope you live well. I hope I never die."
CSJ: [laughter]
GJ: I told her [pause as he taps cane] that I need that, need that stick. Way I done get good with these Southern white people, you got to give, give them a little honor. Got to give them a little honor, I know them. Give them a little honor and they always will help you do what you want to do.
CSJ: Give them a little honor and they will help you?
GJ: Give them a little honor and they will help you.
In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) sponsored a federal project dedicated to chronicling the experience of slavery as remembered by former slaves and their descendants. Their stories were recorded and transcribed, and this site presents dozens of select sound recordings and hundreds of transcriptions from the interviews. Beyond the content of the interviews, little to no biographical information is available on the individuals whose interviews appear here.
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