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Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina

Spencer Cassette 1 Side 2

Media

Part of Interview: Spencer, Cato

Title

Spencer Cassette 1 Side 2

Source

Cato Spencer Interview

Date

1990-08-24

Description

Side 2

00:04--Spencer continues to discuss aspects of singing conventions such as "note-singing." He mentions that blacks and whites occasionally did worship together, though gives no specifics. He recalls his educational experience. Spencer received very little education, on account that he had to work in the fields. He got to attend school, for example, "only when it rained." The school was a log cabin style building named Vance Grove. A teacher he can recall working at the school was Tim Grant. There were no books or magazines in his house as a youth, his parents belonged to no fraternal organizations, nor were they politically active. He cannot recall them ever voting. The main impressions of slavery times are that his ancestor's were worked extremely hard in the fields.

9:30--Spencer discusses experiences with sharecropping. His family would work "cane to cane" (daylight until dark). Wages were perhaps $0.25 per day. He can remember eating meals such as lunch or supper while still in the fields; they didn't have time often to go back home to eat. Blacks had to do whatever the white's said, and also had to show respect and be mannerly around them. Mulattos were often treated better; they were not expected to work as hard. Mr. Spencer traveled to Anderson, SC occasionally in order to purchase fertilizer.

19:38--Spencer makes brief comment on holidays such as Christmas, as well as celebrations such as cake walks and hot suppers. He most admired and liked his mother when he was younger.

27:01--Spencer recalls aspects of his employment with Clemson College. He worked with the college for over 40 years. Much of the farmland is now under Hartwell Lake.

29:23--Audio ends.

Rights

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.