As I reflect on why I am inspired to document the history of and keep ex-Taylor South Eastside residents aware of what is happening in the community is because we have a rich history that has been lost in the growth of Taylor and an exodus of people having to leave Taylor to build better lives. I remember how proud the neighborhood’s people, schools, churches, and businesses were growing up. I spent spring and summers cutting yards and doing errands to make money.
The safety of the neighborhoods was comforting because everyone looked out for everyone’s kids. All adults had the right to say something to you if you were doing something wrong. I remember two brothers lived across the street from each other by the footbridge. Mr. Bibb and Mr. Bibb. I never knew their first name because, in our culture, you better not call an adult by their first name. Sorry, I digress. We had been playing in the creek, and everyone knew we were not supposed to be playing in that creek. So, Mr. Bibbs came down with his belt in his hand, and we ran off.
Now I get home being young and stupid. My pants were wet, and I had mud on my shoes. Mom said, “Mr. Bibbs called and said he saw you on the creek.” I said no, I was not on the creek 😊. She said, “So you are calling Mr. Bibb a lie.” I will leave what happens after that up to your imagination. With all the evidence I was wearing, she never addressed that. It was all about me lying. Yep, we learned to respect our elders. There are people in their 80’s now that people will ask me about using their first name, and I have no idea who they are talking about until they use their last name. Then it’s Mr. or Mrs.
Living a block from O.L. Price school, two blocks from Fannie Robinson Park and pool and the Community Center, and three neighborhood grocery stores within one block was a good life. We were poor, but life was rich for my neighborhood friends and me as a child. All I had to worry about was doing good in school, my chores, staying out of trouble, and being home before dark.
There are so many experiences living right across from the school, aka sitting in the yard and watching the band practice, football practice, or the FFA people doing their thing. I remember when Joe Tex and other famous bands came to the gym. I could not go to the concerts, but I could listen to them from my window in my bed at night. The baseball games at Fannie Robinson Park where people from all around Central Texas would come, and people would be all over the place enjoying the baseball games. When I think of these things, it makes my heart smile.
Then there was integration, which was like a two-sided sword, suitable for most things, but we lost our identity as a community. I will address this in a later blog post.
Ricky