All We Had Was Each Other The Black Community of Madison Indiana

"A remarkable, poignant collection." --Choice

"This oral history of black Madison is an invaluable primary document for students, general readers, and scholars. Interestingly it illuminates the white side of Madison as much as it reveals about what transpired in the black community." --Darlene Clark Hine, from the Foreword

Twenty Black residents of a small Ohio River town here tell the stories of their lives. Madison, though in the North, had its cultural roots in the south, and for most of the twentieth century the town was strictly segregated. In their own words, Black men and women of Madison describe the deprivations of discrimination in their hometown: what it meant, personally and culturally, to be denied opportunities for participation in the educational, economic, political, and social life of the white community. And they describe how they created a community of their own, strong and viable, self-sustaining and mutually supportive of its members.

Madison, Indiana, though geographically situated in the North, had its cultural roots in the South, and for most of this century the town was strictly segregated. In All We Had Was Each Other, 20 black residents of this small Ohio River town relate their life histories. They recall what it meant, personally and culturally, to be denied opportunities for participation in the educational, economic, political, and social life of the white community. And they describe how they created a community of their own, strong and viable, self-sustaining and mutually supportive of its members. The black community of Madison drew upon its own resources -- deep commitment to family and religion, and to its own community school; hard work; self-discipline, personal responsibility, and self-respect. The book provides moving testimony of how Madison's black residents overcame the circumstances of their place and time to live strong and rewarding lives.

Don Wallis, a native of Madison, Indiana, is a writer, teacher, and editor of a country newspaper in Vevay, Indiana. He is the author of Harlan Hubbard and the River: A Visionary Life and editor of Payne Hollow Journal, Shantyboat Journal, and Oyo: An Ohio River Anthology.

I. All We Had Was Each Other

Elsie Perry Payne: We Belonged to the Community

Jim Lewis: Everybody Was My Family

John Coleman: Measures of Success

Pat Cosby: Grateful For My Blackness

II. The Struggle Makes You Strong

Evan Guess: Together in Strength

Betty Inskeep: Self Respect

Will Cosby: Hard Times and Good Times

Bill Guess: The Meaning of the Broadway School

Norval Johnson: The Story of My Life

Bernard Jenkins: They Needed Me, So I Stayed Home

Harriet Wells: Civil Rights

Frank Inskeep: Together We Did Some Good

III. The Nurturing Community

Chorus of Voices: Reverend Gaines Was Everything to Us

Carol Cosby Guess: The Community Made Me What I Am

Charles O'Banion: My Home

Grace Humes and John Humes: The Community Would Correct You

Norman O'Banion: Homemade Games

Mary Stewart, Sue Livers, Karen Douglas: Everybody's Children

Allen Watson: Progress

Denise Carter: The Struggle Goes On