Comments on: The Negress does not sing for her supper http://chronicnegress.net/2009/10/13/the-negress-does-not-sing-for-her-supper/ Wine, knitting, hockey, travel and sickness, all from a Negress of some distinction Wed, 30 May 2012 01:10:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: winenegress http://chronicnegress.net/2009/10/13/the-negress-does-not-sing-for-her-supper/#comment-290 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:29:03 +0000 http://chronicnegress.net/?p=389#comment-290 Judy,

Actually I am the “negress” who wasn’t singing for her supper that night. Sorry for the confusion. I did appreciate your tour of the Houmas House and felt very strongly that you did showcase your education, ebullience and pride quite well during the tour I took with you. To me, your attire and performance at the dinner struck me as weird since the audience was predominantly white and a few of the servers were also African American. It just seemed that the time-honored scenario of blacks working and whites relaxing was being replicated at the dinner. I know that may not have been your intention but that was how it came off to me. Also, I remember you also told me about your sister the doctor and I am pleased to learn that the previous generation of your family is also as distinguished. Good luck with your future plans and thanks for adding some perspective to my comments.

]]> By: Judy Whitney-Davis http://chronicnegress.net/2009/10/13/the-negress-does-not-sing-for-her-supper/#comment-289 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:45 +0000 http://chronicnegress.net/?p=389#comment-289 Good morning. I was the “negress” of which you spoke of at Houmas House, Judy Davis. I was saddened that you perceived a time lack regarding history at Houmas House. As an African-American (whose parents were Civil Rights workers in Mississippi–google Rev. Samuel Leon and Hazel Octavia Whitney), I have always aspired to showcase BOTH sides of the proverbial big house experience, inclusive of the fact that whites were not exclusively slaveowners here (by 1860, 2,200 blacks were slaveowners in Louisiana–it is documented). I have always made a concerted point to show the very best of my race, class and education, and was appalled to think that you would think otherwise.
In conclusion, having spent some of my life in Michigan (and seeing the mind-boggling lack of education in our own history, exclusive of Black History Month), my outfit was researched as something that both blacks and whites would wear as simple day wear, both here and in the markets of that time. I would hope in the future that you would actually take my tour–in its entirety–to get a true taste of the South, and Louisiana, my home.

Sincerely Yours,

Judy Whitney-Davis

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