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W1
p.80

CELESTINE WARE_WBAI
3-5-1971

4

MINNIE EVANS

thing they was not suppose to. They was not uh and I could work if I wanted to. So I wanted to work because they wasn't able to keep me in school and keep in clothes. (C.W. I see) So for a year I went to work.

C.W. What did you do?

M.E. We were sounders. We sold seafood.

C.W. Oh! yes. There's famous seafood in North Carolina.

M.E. That's right. Getting the seafood, getting the clams, and oysters. Then we carried them in buckets and carried them over to the city and we sold them. I thought I was doing nice then and I was because I was making - I wanted a little money.

C.W. How much did you make a week then? Do you know?

M.E. Oh! my goodness it was cheap then. We made two dollars and a half a week. But something like then we did something because money was scarce. People selling oysters ten cents per quart (C.W. Oh! for heaven sakes) and all such as that but I loved it. (C.W. You really liked it?) Then I met and fell in love with Julius Evans or Julius Evans met and fell in love with me and he asked me to marry him. I said well then. My step daddy's sister they said Minnie marry Julius if he wants you. Well then I thought that was fun (laughter) getting married. But I wasn't but sixteen years old then. But I had to be 18 before I got married. You see my marriage registry here in Wilmington it said Minnie Jones 18. I was not. I was only 16.

C.W. Then after you got married what kind of work did you do? Did you stay home?

M.E. I stayed home, a housewife (C.W. That's nice) for quite a while because my husband was working for some millionary people. (C.W. Oh! he was?) The Pembroke Joneses, so therefore that keep me home.

C.W. How many children did you have with Mr. Evans?

M.E. My first baby died. Was born dead. Then I had three more boys. [[strikethrough]] Vinson [[/strikethrough]] Elisha, my oldest boy is out there