Arthur Miller spent a few weeks just before Pearl Harbor doing field recording in the American south for the Library of Congress collecting accents. BBC Radio 4 has an excellent 30 minute interview with Miller where he tells stories about his (first) experiences in the South, the remarkable inequities that existed there at the time, and the great music he discovered.
The following story really struck a chord. Miller is being guided around by a health official named Dr. Vestal, and Miller has just called an older black worker “Sir”.
I came back and Dr. Vestal looked like he had been hit by a rock in the head. He was white with anger. He said “Mr. Miller, would you step outside for a moment?”.
I walked outside and he said “You must never address them as ‘Sir’.”
I said, “Well, what am I to call ’em?”
“Boy”
Well the guy, the worker was about in his 50’s or older, and I was 24 or whatever the hell I was. I couldn’t believe it.
Sadly members of my family had a very similar experience shortly after moving to Wichita Falls, Texas, in the early 1960’s. Sometime I’ll have to write that story up, but we’ll leave it with Miller for now.
I don’t know how long this piece will be available on the Radio 4 listen again list, so rush over and check it out!
Kudos to WeatherGirl for the initial pointer.
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