As I jump into my pre-spring cleaning and attack this kitchen display of vintage kitchen tools and knick-knacks, I thought I’d snap photos before I reorganize.
This Mammy Memo pad has seen better days but it’s all authentic. This was passed on to us from my husband’s folks around 1980. It was on their kitchen wall when they moved into their home years before. The pencil was originally green and faded out to yellow decades ago. The previous owner had written them a note “welcome them to your new home”. The note was never removed. I believe it’s a pressed, molded composition material. That’s an early patent number. Not sure of the year.
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Allee Willis
I had this exact mammy. But I had to retire all my mammies (and Sambos and the like) when I worked with James Brown in the 80’s and he went through Willis Wonderland and retired all such, as Whoopi calls it, Negrobilia. But this was a classic mammy piece. And I love that note!
BeeJay
I remember you mentioned that before. What did he do with all the stuff?
Understandable from his point of view and on the other hand we all know you didn´t collect it with bad or wrong intentions.
Allee Willis
I gave it to other collectors that collect it.
BeeJay
That´s a great turn of you, Allee.
Douglas Wood
I have an African American friend who finds white people displaying painful black stereotypes in their home offensive. I have another African American friend who finds them beautiful in a perverse way and thinks it’s important to display them for their historical value. Personally, I dislike the figures with exaggerated features but find much of the other stuff folk art at its best.