An Interview with Genoveva Acevedo

Rowell:

How long have you lived here in this community?

Acevedo:

My whole life. Since I was born until now I have been here in El Carmen. I have had seventeen children. Ten of my children died. I have seven alive.

Rowell:

Did they die as young children or as older adults?

Acevedo:

When they were young, two months after their birth, three months after their birth.

Carrillo:

And why?

Acevedo:

I don't know, my dearest. It's because my husband was sick.

Carrillo:

What did he have?

Acevedo:

I couldn't tell you, because the doctor gave him medicine. Before, they didn't examine you like that here. But a boss my husband had gave us all checkups. The doctor started to examine him and he told me that we still couldn't have children. After we had the medicine, we could have children.

Carrillo:

What type of illness was it?

Acevedo:

Kidneys. Many time, he urinated almost all blood. He died on me still with that illness.

Rowell:

How long since he died?

Acevedo:

Twelve. We wed and lasted forty years married. On the same date that we marked our 50th anniversary, he died. It was May 17.

Rowell:

What type of work did he do?

Acevedo:

Bus driver. I have stayed home my whole life. He never let me go out to work in the fields or anything. He didn't want to because then, who would take care of the children?

Rowell:

How do you think the community has changed since you were little?

Acevedo:

Since I was young I've been in the church community. I have not strayed from the church.

Carrillo:

But before, what things were there here in El Carmen that no longer exist? What customs? What were people like? Has it changed a lot?

Acevedo:

Yes, young people are very modern nowadays. They're not like before. Before, we didn't go out to dances, celebrations, or anything. Now they've changed a lot. Before, you would go to church. Now, many wake up drunk.

Carrillo:

Are there many alcohol and drug problems?

Acevedo:

Sometimes they drink, and sometimes there are fights. In our day, there was none of that.

Jones:

And why the change?

Acevedo:

I don't know why the change. As I was telling you, I got married, I had the church. My mother also was part of the church. That's where I grew accustomed to it. I used to tell my husband not to take the church from me. He listened. You can take dances from me. I have never liked celebrations. I grumble with my granddaughter over that because she likes celebrations. I tell her that I don't want them.

Carrillo:

And do you remember some stories about the past? About slavery? How people were? How they were treated?

Acevedo:

I couldn't tell you. But people treated each other well. Employers treated people well. At least where my husband worked, I have no complaints.

Carrillo:

How were the foremen? Were there all kinds?

Acevedo:

At the hacienda where my husband worked there weren't any.

Carrillo:

At the others?

Acevedo:

At the others, there were. They say that slavery used to happen at San Jose. But not here.

Carrillo:

There was like a silence bell in San Jose. Do you know anything about that?

Acevedo:

About San Jose, I don't know. I have never been there.

Carrillo:

You have never been to San Jose?

Acevedo:

No, my dearest. As a married woman, I never went. My mom never allowed it.

Carrillo:

Why not? What happened in San Jose?

Acevedo:

Nothing, it's just that over here in El Carmen, they didn't give us permission to go.

Rowell:

But her husband worked there?

Carrillo:

Yes, close to San Jose. It's very interesting because it's very close.

Acevedo:

San Jose was well known because there was a celebration on March 19. But we weren't allowed to go. But from other places like El Guayabo, people would come to...