Family and Kinship

Kinship interview

Interviewee: Vernon Sims aka Dad

Family member 1(older)

Dad’s Cousin Andrew

Divorced with 2 sons

(nickname Drag-comes from the way he dragged his feet when he was young)Alive.

From Donaldsonville, Louisiana

Henderson, California

His son is an actor (my 2^nd cousin) Robert Ri’chard in TV series like one on one and meet the browns etc.

Spends most time with Andrew because he lives in Las Vegas and has kids out there and my dad lives in the same area. My dad said he spends holidays with me because I always invite him and cook his favorite creole dishes!

Family member 2 (older)

Nellie-Mother-dead

Her huband left home, she had 2 children (my dad and his sister)

From Donaldsonville, Louisiana

Died when my dad was young, he got sent to live with his grandmother and was raised with his cousin Ed, Andrew and Carl whom my dad refers to as his brothers. He remembers a lot of his childhood at Catholic school, wanting shoes to fit and more food to eat and living with a bunch of relatives in a small house after he was sent to live there when everyone passed, but can’t get the facts he needs since his mom dead and shortly after his sister died and his dad ran off when he was too young to have substantial information.

Family member 3(younger)

Dad’s cousin Carl

Divorced/Remarried with 2 daughters

(nickname sheik- always like the finer thing) Alive

From Donaldsonville, Louisiana

Windsor hills, California

He used to be close in the glory days, Carl was the place to go for all social events when they all moved to California and got married. Most memorable holidays parties.

No longer close but they do get along, he remarried his wife  a few years after they got divorced.

Family member 4(younger)

Dad’s sister Carolyn- dead

No children                                          

Donaldsonville, Louisiana

My older sister was named after her 1^st Aunt

Passed very young of diabetes, they stayed in a rural area and it took several hours for help to come and she died. Dad blames himself for not being able to do more for her as her younger brother.

My dad doesn’t like to ask for things he gets a uncomfortable like he is putting people out. He know if he really needs something he could ask but he never will, that why he worked hard all his life to have money in the bank, good credit and a home, “I owe no one, I’m 72 years old, I still work and drive.”

The Family lives in Louisiana and California! My dad says he would like to go back home, but prefers to live by the water. His cousins aka brothers have always stayed close in the same city, Andrew, Ed and my dad live in Vegas when they retired and Carl remarried so he stayed behind in the city.

Analysis 

The person I choose was my Dad, Vernon. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Donaldsonville. His religion is Catholic and he walked several miles in shoes that were too small, to a very strict Catholic school  where the nouns would hit your palms with a ruler almost daily( things sure have changed..lol) My dad is 72 years old and of creole descent. Vernon graduated from high school, went to college and got two degrees, went to the army, served as a police officer and after getting shot worked for the USPS until retired, never remarried.

Unfortunately all my family is spread pretty thin sine I moved to the Valley so I had a phone interview with my dad. I choose my dad because I know everything about my mom’s side of the family (can’t get a break..lol) During the interview I was pretty excited since we don’t talk a lot about his side of the family and I have never met anyone but his cousins aka as his brothers,  since they were raised together. I called them uncle so and so I was unexpectedly in tears or consoling my dad during this interview since most the people in his life died or abandoned him or made him feel like an outsider. This didn’t affect the interview because it made me want to learn more and give my dad a peace of mind and take some of the weight of the past off his shoulders. The difference of interviewing someone unrelated would have been less intense and not as interesting. The fact this was about my heritage keep it steamy!

My dad was raised by his grandma on his mother’s side after she passed. They lived in a small home in the south in a rural area where she also took care of her sons and other grandchildren.  Food and clothing were always in demand and the older people who worked had a meal first and the children second. Since my dad’s, father abandoned them, his sister died and his mother shortly after, he grew close to his four cousins. They are best friend and all relocated to California and all got married, had children and all divorced!  Most of our family is half creole and African American, we had more social events  the most when everyone was married but after that we all just have briefings or a holiday hello.

Conclusion;

I know my mother’s side since they were all born in California so having access to them comes in splendor..lol I have only met my Uncles aka 2^ndcousins on my dad’s side since they all relocated to California. I have never been to my dad’s hometown of Louisiana, but most definitely want to go now! My father has more influence than my mom on decision making since he is the final wallet..lol! Even tho she seems like the final say. We treat everybody like family that comes into our family. My mom came from a eight person household and my dad was raised with wanting family and old southern hospitality so we always want a lot people around. I guess that’s why I have four kids and most of my cousins too. Maybe not as many as the back in the day folks but were up there for these days and time.  Since my dad is old world south, he taught us gender role respect and I was raised to take care of the inside of the house, cook, clean , raise kids and men took care out the outside, work, garden, trash etc. my mom’s family is a little more conservative. I now want to know where I came from beyond my dad's grandmother,Felicie! I learned why my dad has a hardworking spirit because he never wants me and my sis to feel like we don’t have a father or to want for anything like he did growing up!- i love you daddy!