Introduction“WHO AM I”

My name is Mary Lee, I am a sixty two year old English speaking Black female born in the United States,

that lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. Louisiana is the home of the Louisiana Saints, and a place with good

food, music and southern hospitality. I live in the Highland area, found in the north part of Shreveport, it is

a diverse community with all socio-economic status of people, from very poor to very rich according what

side you live on, where I live in the middle. I have two disabilities that I am combatting to re-enter the work

place, fibromyalgia, bi-carpel tunnel, chronic back pain, and synovsis in my knees. I have worked about 33,

20 at Arkla Gas as a Volume Analyst and 10 at International Paper in Customer Service, two years at

Woodlawn High as a Health Teacher, and 1 year at Minact Job Corp. where I was an instructor as a

computer teacher, and reading teacher. I have a B.S. in education from Texas College, and a Masters in

Technology from Ashford University, and I now am pursing a Masters in Education. I am a divorced mother

of two grown children and five grandchildren, and love single life but want to remarry for companionship. I

am a democratic, and affiliated with the Pena costal Church. I attended Stoner Hill Elementary until I

graduated six grade and went to Valencia High until 11 th grade and changed schools during the times of

segregation where I went to a predominately white school Byrd high by Name.

MY CULTURAL IDENTITY

• One Cold day on the sixth of December 1952, a black baby girl was born to John Henry and Willie Mae Lee. We were a poor family of eight that had a lot of love especially from my mother, and my alcoholic dad as much as he could give coming from an abused family himself. We lived in Shreveport South side in a shot gun house that was high off the ground. We believe that it took a village to raise a child and many of our neighbors did just that reported anything we done to our parents, who firmly believed what the bible says about sparing the rod and ruining the child. My mother’s mother was a school teacher, even though both of my parents were 10th grade drop outs. I attended Stoner Hill Elementary the name of my community also, until sixth grade and went to Valencia Jr. Sr. High from 7th grade to 12th where we were changed during the times of the racial unrest. We were forced to be bused to an all white school by the Name of Byrd High.

MY CULTURAL IDENTITY• From High I attended Texas College and received a B.S. in Education. I

used this degree only three years, and worked at Arkla Gas for twenty and International Paper for 10.

I love to learn which was instilled in me by my mom even though she never finished high school. My mom influence me a great woman, worked hard as a maid, that she called her extended family even though they were white. She brought the most money in because My dad worked seasonal as a carpenter, and odd's jobs during off seasons. What I remember are the times my dad was sober and took the whole family to fishing, because when he was drunk he fussed, and abused my mom until we all begin to mature and made sure he didn’t. I also love to travel and have done a little to places like Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginal, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, and Plan many more. Lee is a name from China, but I am Black and should have a name that Identifies me with Africa. In my culture we love to dance to music, and sing.

MY CULTURAL IDENTITYMost of the Blacks got their name from their owners during slavery, some have been fortunate to have some connection and have found out what tribe, my dad always said his dad was from Ethiopia, and when I visited Houston I saw a man that worked at the hotel looked like my dad and he was Ethiopian.

My cultural celebrate Juneteenth because that was our Independence day, Martin Luther King holiday, and Black History Month in February.

One thing that was handed down to me from my ancestors, are making quilts, and home remedies from herbs. We have different types of teas, salves that we make and drink when sick, and we make our own hair products that I have in terms handed it down to my daughter and son.

The most valuable piece of information my mother handed down to me was work hard and you will make it and if a man don’t work he want eat” It is so valuable because it gives me pride in my work, and make me feel good that I work hard for everything I have and all of my accomplishments. They said life is not fair you have to deal with what is dealt to you. I find so much truth in those words and I value them because the words came from my parents

MY CULTURAL IDENTITY

• I took all of the points because It took them all to tell who I am.