Critical Perspectives on Accounting (1997) 8 , 367

They didn’t complain about me working then . . .

Would wake up at four in the morning . Fix breakfast for three . Make my bed and take note of what I needed to pick up on my return trip home . On my trip home from the white man’s kitchen . Where lived his fat little baby , and his almost pretty wife . . . Four o’clock in the morning , I had to wake up . Just so I could take care of my family and make the subway by six . Wasn’t making much money , but it helped buy extra shoes for Joe , (he grew so fast) and nice undie’s for Priscilla (she was coming to be a lady) . I could also buy a book for Michael , (my bookworm) . I always knew Michael was going to be something special , and if I had to work three jobs to make it happen , that’s exactly what I’d do . . . But no one complained about us working then . In fact it was always helpful for some ones Mama , to work any job so that the family could survive . And her children could enjoy what she missed . While their children would never have to witness them , getting up at four in the morning to feed a family of three , and catch a subway by six . To some white man’s kitchen , where she will feed an already fat baby , and listen to the nagging of his almost pretty wife . . . Now that we Black Women don’t have to stoop so low anymore . Now that we’ve got a little education and a little say-so . Our men are worried . They keep telling us ‘‘Don’t take that good job from the Brothers . Stand back and respect them , Sister . Don’t be like those white women libber’s , they are going to lead you down some road of no return . ’’ All this and more is what I have to bear . But why are they complaining about me working now . So , the job is going to pay 60 , 000 a year . I’m a divorcee , with two children , I need it . I competed with 19 men , of all races and it just so happened that the best person won . . . . So , now you say I’m being used as a ‘‘Two-For . ’’ You believe I’m only getting this position because of my being Black , and a Woman . Well , I sure wish my grandma were alive to listen to this . Because in her day , the only thing a Black Woman was used for , was waking up at four in the morning , to feed a family of three . To catch a subway by six , to some white man’s kitchen , where she would feed an already fat baby , and listen to the nagging , unhappiness , of his almost pretty wife . . . Yet it’s so strange , no one complained about us working then . . .

Gale Edeawo

(pa960151)

367