DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ain't I A Woman? newspapers, June 1970-July 1971

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Ain't I A Woman? newspapers, June 1970-July 1971

1970-12-11 "Ain't I a Woman" Page 7

I loved visiting her. 
She would take my arm when we walked 
and proudly introduce me to the people she knew:
"This is my grand niece all the way from Iowa."
But it will be different at Christmas. 
When my brother comes, 
she'll reach for his arm. 

The next day I came early with the car
so we could go for a ride, 
but the elevator was broken 
and Mae can't walk six flights. 

It remains on the blink 
for the same reason 
that during the fuel strike, 
the landlords on 59th street ordered
the heat turned down in the building to save money 
even though there was plenty in the tank. 
Nellie was sick, 
and they spend two weeks in bed. 

One time when Mae was coming home 
from visiting Nellie at the Nursing home, 
she was so entranced by a little girl on the bus
that she missed her stop--
ending up in hippyville 
as she calls it. 
She passed a woman 
drunk and standing alone with a dress box. 
She was very refined, said Mae, 
and men were standing around 
waiting for her to pass out. 
The refined woman called to Mae:
"I'll give you this dress 
if you'll call my family in Jersey."
But my Aunt didn't want to leave her 
for fear of the men 
and waited until help came. 
I was surprised; Mae is scared of the city. 

I took her to dinner again 
and we sat next to a woman 
with two small children 
who was very chic and drinking before dinner. 
She scolded the girl and praised the boy 
saying cute things for the benefit of 
the people around. 
But the man she was inevitably waiting for 
never came....

And after watching the pain of that woman
And helping the refined woman, 
After supporting Archie and Willie their whole lives
And having no elevator and no heat...

After such a capable, godly life, 
Mae, why do you still talk of boyfriends? 

[hand drawing]


To the new women 

If you can see
my suffering 
I am afraid;

Fear of 
illegitimate suffering;
I don't deserve you. 
But you accept me. 

You don't say 
Go way 
It's not important 
I can't accept concern. 
I don't believe it.

The negations live
around the eyes.
You search into 
the woman 
and I look away. 

Help me. 

A Woman?  December 11, 1970 Page 7

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I loved visiting her. She would take my arm when we walked and proudly introduce me to the people she knew: "This is my grand niece all the way from Iowa." But it will be different at Christmas. When my brother comes, she'll reach for his arm. The next day I came early with the car so we could go for a ride, but the elevator was broken and Mae can't walk six flights. It remains on the blink for the same reason that during the fuel strike, the landlords on 59th street ordered the heat turned down in the building to save money even though there was plenty in the tank. Nellie was sick, and they spend two weeks in bed. One time when Mae was coming home from visiting Nellie at the Nursing home, she was so entranced by a little girl on the bus that she missed her stop-- ending up in hippyville as she calls it. She passed a woman drunk and standing alone with a dress box. She was very refined, said Mae, and men were standing around waiting for her to pass out. The refined woman called to Mae: "I'll give you this dress if you'll call my family in Jersey." But my Aunt didn't want to leave her for fear of the men and waited until help came. I was surprised; Mae is scared of the city. I took her to dinner again and we sat next to a woman with two small children who was very chic and drinking before dinner. She scolded the girl and praised the boy saying cute things for the benefit of the people around. But the man she was inevitably waiting for never came.... And after watching the pain of that woman And helping the refined woman, After supporting Archie and Willie their whole lives And having no elevator and no heat... After such a capable, godly life, Mae, why do you still talk of boyfriends? [hand drawing] To the new women If you can see my suffering I am afraid; Fear of illegitimate suffering; I don't deserve you. But you accept me. You don't say Go way It's not important I can't accept concern. I don't believe it. The negations live around the eyes. You search into the woman and I look away. Help me. A Woman? December 11, 1970 Page 7