My Story Will Save Yours
by Korie Floe
Today in class we were assigned an assignment, to go out and discover an African American story. One that is moving and will inspire a perfect paper. I have two weeks to get this perfect paper written and I have no clue where to start. Crap. I live in a community with very little African American population. How on earth am I going to find an inspiring story from the two families that just moved in? I am headed off to the library to finish up my history homework. Under my chair at the library was a book that obviously was not in the correct spot. I got up to bring it to the return counter. On the walk I opened up the book to discover what it was about. The first thing I saw was “my story will save yours”, so of course I went back to my seat and started to read.
September 20, 1920
Hello to whoever may be reading this, I am Janie. I live in Florida and I am black or African American if you prefer to hear. In case you don’t know about how women, especially African American women, were treated in the 1920s, we basically are compared to chickens. Not good for anything but cooking and cleaning. We’re not smart or so men say. Men have control over us and make sure they know it. You need a man in order to survive here. Since I was a little girl I knew that true love existed and that not all men would feel the need to control me. I know most men don’t treat women fairly but there has to be one that knows how to treat a woman right, I will find him.
Could this be happening? An African American female left what seems to be a diary behind to show the world? Could this be just the girl to inspire my perfect paper? It was worth a shot. I checked out the book and headed back home to learn more about Janie and her story.
November 10, 1920
I never really have seen true love before, let alone having a male figure to demonstrate love. I was raised by my grandmother. My mother was raped and after having me she left. My grandmother knew what it felt like to be raped but knew that I needed to be brought up right, and she did just that. She was a Nanny for the white folks. We lived on their property and I grew up with my best friends being white. My grandmother often said “don’t settle for just any man, settle for one with a good home, good land, and a good working man that will take care of you for a lifetime”. Of course she never mentioned true love. This made me upset, I wanted true love not some working demanding man. My grandmother had even picked out the perfect man for me to marry. Yay…
What?! How awful. I couldn’t imagine having been brought up by my grandmother, without ever even meeting my mother. How could Janie go through such a rough past with never seeing true love but still dream for it? I have a bad feeling that with Grandmother picking out her husband, it will not lead to true love. True love just happens, it can’t be picked out and it definitely can’t be forced.
January 8, 1921
Well I am a married woman now. His name is Logan and he has a fine house. He is supporting me, just like Grandmother wanted. However, I am not happy, this can’t be true love. All I do is cook and clean, I never am a part of the fun. However I ran into someone new today, his name is Joe. He has many hopes and dreams just like I do. He said I could go off with him to live out these dreams. I could never turn away an offer to live out my dreams. Besides maybe he could provide true love.
January 9, 1921
I did it, I ran off with Joe! I can’t believe I actually did it, I am going to live out my dreams, not my grandmothers, not Logan’s, but MINE! Logan threaten to kill me last night, so I ran off with Joe. He has to be safer then Logan. I am excited to see where Joe will take me, being Mrs. Joe Starks now.
I can’t believe Janie just up and left Logan like that. I am glad she did, like her I would have left to live out my dreams too. Especially if Logan had threaten to kill me! I hope Joe turns out to be the one of Janie, I hope she finds true love.
October 14, 1930
Joe is not the answer to true love, but rather the complete opposite. Joe has made me bury my feelings deep into my soul so no one can see them. I am Joe’s wife, completely controlled wife. I can only talk when he says, work for everything he wants, and must do only what he says. I can never play checkers like the rest or speak my mind to anyone, even Joe. Apparently my work can never be good enough for Joe because he feels the need to abuse me for whatever small mistake he thinks I have done. This is not true love. My dreams seemed so big when we started out. Now I can’t even see a dream. I have so much to say, so many feelings and so much life ahead of me. Regardless of what Joe believes.
My heart goes out to Janie. I could never go through what she did. If only Janie lived in 2013, she would be freed from Joe and his abuse. She could live out her dreams, just like I am.
March 2, 1941
Well today Joe died, my husband of 20 years has finally died. I have been freed of him and the abuse. I am free to be whoever, I am free to be me. I can live without fear, I can say what I want when I want, and I can wear my hair down. I made sure that Joe had heard my voice when he died, I spoke my mind, I expressed my feelings and I was finally me.
Finally! Janie is free! I am so happy that Janie can live in freedom now. I am so happy that Janie was able to express her feelings and spoke her thoughts to Joe before he died.
June 10, 1941
I met someone knew, Tea Cake, he is young, but the answer to my dreams. Tea Cake makes me feel like I have never felt before. I can’t help but smile whenever he is around. He cares for me, really cares. He taught me how to play checkers and fish. He taught me how to live, free. I know he is the answer to my search of true love. I am in love with Tea Cake.
Yay! Janie is finally experiencing the life she deserves. I couldn’t be more happy that she met Tea Cake. I know Janie will take advantage of this opportunity, just like I would.
August 18, 1941
I did it, I chased my dreams, I married Tea Cake. I couldn’t be happier. The feelings Tea Cake provides me with I believe is true love. My dreams are coming true.
August 11, 1944
Tragedy has struck Florida, a hurricane in fact. Tea Cake saved my life but got sick in the process. His sickness tried to kill me so I had no choice but to kill Tea Cake. I killed the love of my life. I looked to God, why would he plan to create such a horrible tragedy that led to my loved one dying. I needed answers to the reasoning behind his plan.
This is so tragic. I can’t imagine having to kill my loved one. I too, find myself looking up to God wondering just where He is going with this path He laid out for me. God always has the best plans laid out for you, He will lead you on a journey that will make sure you discover yourself.
October 10, 1944
I found my answers, God provided a life for me that brought me through the toughest times and the best times. He allowed me to learn about life and just how difficult it can be. However, in the process, all my hopes and dreams were answered. I am Janie and this is my story. I hope you take from my story the message to “Always follow your dreams, your big dreams. Go far, don’t let anyone stop you, and trust the Lord to guide you.”
Little did I know, I would be inspired by Janie enough to learn a life lesson that lead to a perfect paper.
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