Rev. Addie Lorraine Wyatt (Finding Aid)

Rev. Addie Lorraine Wyatt

1924 -

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Food: Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese

Favorite Time of Year: Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Chicago

Interview Length: 216 minutes

Interview Date(s): June 1, 2002

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Addie Wyatt gives some details on her mother's background and describes that she died at a young age, leaving Addie her five children to raise. She also discusses her father's life and how racism caused him to be an angry and frustrated person. The family relocated from Brookhaven, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois after her father had an altercation with his white boss and was forced to leave town. She recalls her earliest memory: at two years old she remembers complaining about having her hair braided. Addie Wyatt then recounts her family history, including how her parents met and the names and ages of her siblings. She then describes her childhood in Brookhaven, reminiscing about the sights and sounds of her neighborhood. Wyatt explains that when she played house with her friends as a youth she'd serve real food, instead of mud cakes. Finally, Wyatt describes a trip she took back to her childhood home and the stirring of emotions that resulted. Labor union leader Addie Wyatt describes a trip that she took to Brookhaven, Mississippi, her childhood home. She brought with her two magazines in which she was featured as an influential woman many years after she left the South. Wyatt recalls memories from her childhood, including visiting patients with her grandmother, a midwife, and a family tradition, the weekly "love fest." Wyatt also remembers sobering moments from her childhood, news of lynchings in her community and the general tone of aggression against black people. Wyatt describes that she was known by many in her community as an "old child," a girl who concerned herself with the business of adults. Wyatt discusses her family's migration north, a result of a conflict between her father and a white man. Wyatt names the schools she attended in Chicago after the family's change of residence. She then describes her childhood reaction to the family's limited resources, during the era of the Works Progress Administration. Addie Wyatt remembers being humiliated as a youth when having to prove to a welfare worker that she did, in fact, need new shoes. Although being poor was traumatic for her, she was able to use this experience to help others later in life. Wyatt describes how she used to make money as a child and give her mother most of the profits, while only keeping a small portion for herself. She then tells of her experience, at seventeen, when she worked at Armour and Company and discovered that she was making less money than the whites and the men. It was at this point in time when she first became interested in labor unions. She saw that union members were making more money and had greater job stability. She then joined the union and soon became a delegate. At her first conference she saw the mix of races coming together to fight for workers' rights and equal rights and became incredibly inspired. Wyatt suggested the idea of having a female vice president of the union. The union agreed and begged her to run for As she became a labor union leader, Addie Wyatt received support from her family who realized that her leadership was an effort to make the world a better place. She faced many challenges in the male-dominated negotiations. She had to start with the basics of equality and first demanded that she sit at eye level with the company leaders when negotiating instead of on the sofa where they literally looked down on her. Her first victory as a labor leader came when she was able to get an employee's job back after he had stolen meat from the packinghouse. The company was moved by Wyatt's defense and hired back the worker. Soon after, Wyatt was appointed to be the Secretary of the Civil Rights Committee and became influential on the national level. Wyatt faced much hostility in her early days in dealing with civil rights and labor issues. She was able to cope with these problems through prayer and positive thinking. At age twenty her mother dies and gives her the responsibility of raising her children. Lat Addie Wyatt discusses her career ascent and tells of the increase in responsibility and travel. She then describes how her ministry, Vernon Park Church of God, was formed. She tells of how the church was shunned because of the members' support of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when the contractor pulled out of the project to build their church. Wyatt fully supported Dr. King and worked with him in Alabama with the Montgomery Improvement Association. She explains the emotions she felt the first time she heard Dr. King speak and the powerful presence he had. Wyatt describes the violence that she, Dr. King and other marchers experienced at a civil rights march in Chicago. Addie Wyatt makes the point that she was integrating equal pay for equal work clauses into union contracts even before the Equal Pay Act or the Civil Rights Act came into effect. She then talks about some of the common objections and worries that surrounded the idea. Wyatt goes into detail on the struggles that women, specifically black women, have had to overcome. She explains that women did not face these problems only in the workplace, but also in the church and in the home. Addie Wyatt talks in general about and expresses pride in having achieved greater freedom for minorities. As she looks into the future, she realizes that all of the progress that has been made could easily be lost. She calls for continued struggles for peace, justice, freedom and equality. Wyatt also makes it clear that the up and coming African American generations need to be aware of the struggles their elders have gone through to better their race. These lines of communication and the passing down of stories of the movements Addie Wyatt tells how she has always looked to God for strength during adverse times. When asked of her late parents, she explains that they would both be pleased with the strides she's made for African Americans, unions and women. Wyatt would like to be remembered as someone who inspired others, as she was inspired. In terms of her legacy, Wyatt mentions love and confidence in people for who they are. Addie Wyatt then discusses the accomplishments of her ministry, the Vernon Park Church of God. Following are photos from Addie Wyatt's life. Photos include Addie with the likes of Rosalyn Carter, Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, Carol Moseley Braun as well as Wyatt on the cover of 'Time' magazine. Photographs throughout Addie Wyatt's life. Photos include Addie Wyatt with Jimmy Carter, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Jesse Jackson and Richard M. Daley among others.

89 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)