“Hello MS. Joyner Jones I am honored to be here today and interviewing a greatly known African American woman.”
“Well thank you very much”
“So how about we get started with this interview
“That would be lovely.”
“Okay I would like to start with a few questions.”
“Okay”
“When you were younger what event(s) made you first interested in the arts?”
“when I was a small child I always seemed to have my mouth open and a sound always managed to come out.”(Willa Daughtry)”Also I was inspired by my mother ,Henrietta Jones,who was lead soprano at my dad’s church.”
“Wow a lot of music.Well how did some of your mentors help you develop the interest and talents you have as an artist?”
“Well my mother and father inspired me to follow my dreams in music.then incouraged me to go to Providence acedemy Of Music.And some of my teachers pushed me to do better in school.”
“Your parents seemed inspiring”
“So what was entering the music world like when you first began your carreer?
“Well their were a lot of new groups put and individuals as well who were very inspiring and great,both old and new singers.And it was exspecially hard for an African American to come out and be successful.I also created the Negro Jubilee singer.It is basically filled with African American singers,dancers,performers and others,it was a group that was known around the world. Eventhough we were all African American we got alot of crowds, any race.”
“ Wow that must of brought alot of attention to the African American communities.So were there any struggles like economical,political,or cultural through out your journey?”
“In an economical way my husband the ,Richard Jones he worked as bellman and he didn’t make a lot of money.And as an African American singer you didn’t get paid what you were supposed to. And my husband had a gambling and drinking problem so he always set us back from were we could have been.In cultural because of my race I wasn’t being chosen for certain things and I didn’t get seen as the others did. And in Political their was always a fight as to if I should or shouldn’t be aloud to do something.”
“What were some of your major accomplishments and methods you used?”
“Some of my greatest accomplishments was when at the white house I sang for presidents Benjamin Harrison at his luncheon,Grover Cleveland,William Mckinley,And Theodore Roosevelt. And some of the methods that I used was always stay modivated and try to do your best even if you get knocked down.”
“What were key opportunities that led to turning points in your life?”
“Some of those opportunities was in April 1892 I was selected to be one of the performers at the negro Jubilee at the Madison square garden.Some say that I was the star of the show. And because of that my sales went up over night and offers too that when I woke up the next day I was famous and didn’t even know it .Um i also became part of the Jubilee singing group.
“What personal choices did you have to make to become successful?”
“Well it wasn’t so much to be successful but to make sure I was safe was to divorce my husband and making sure I wasn’t going to be drugged into any legal situations. And making sure I was happy.”
“What was some of the hardships you overcome to get here?”
“There were a few in life:when I was younger my dad did weird jobs so that we could survive and I make sacrifices.I switched schools for a while . I would help around the houses and do my best.”
“What type of limitations did you faced an artist and a person well being African American like in the white house you can perform but you can not attend the luncheon until it changed in 1901.You were rejected eventhough you knew they wanted to have you there.I was critisized and compared to others.”
“What type of stories best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?”
“They were more of memories but my mom singing to me and going to there choir rehearsals And seeing them perform in church services.And how my mom always kept me influenced and interested.And always said ‘no matter what is going on always look up and ahead.And she was right.’ ”
“well it was a pleasure to speak with you. Thanks for allowing me to do this.”
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy parents encouraged me to pursue my career as well. But of course my voice isn't as breathtaking as you claim yours to be. How refreshing to see an African American woman take such enormous leaps beyond what is expected of us in society!
ReplyDeleteI just love your style and how your career is. I love how your parents encouraged you to purse your career as well. Now that's wonderful darling.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you if I hadn't listened to my parents and held my head high i do not know where i would be.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though your parents were very supportive of your love of singing! I find that so touching. It's beautiful how you brought attention to African music. You seem very successful! Bravo!
ReplyDelete