Pancakes, Perseverance, and Pivotal Moments in '68
Step into the spring of 1968 with Wambui Bahati as she shares a poignant yet uplifting story from her senior year at James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Amidst the emotional backdrop of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, Wambui's quest for independence leads her to Tex and Shirley's Pancake House, marking the beginning of her journey in the workforce. This video recounts the sting of realization when faced with the harsh realities of racial barriers. Yet, Wambui's resilience shines through as she navigates these challenges, ultimately finding joy and pride in her work and later in New York City.
Wambui Bahati’s poignant narrative from the spring of 1968 takes us back to a critical moment in American history, where the weight of social change hangs heavy in the air. As a senior at James B. Dudley High School, she is grappling with the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, a loss that resonates deeply within her community. Amidst this backdrop of sorrow, Wambui yearns for independence and purpose. She decides to enter the workforce, a choice that sets her off on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and resilience.
Her quest for a job leads her to Tex and Shirley's Pancake House, where she hopes to become a waitress, envisioning the thrill of earning her own money. Upon meeting Ms. Shirley, the restaurant owner, Wambui is filled with hope. However, her dreams are met with the harsh realities of the era's racial discrimination when Ms. Shirley, despite her kindness, expresses that her customers are not ready for a Black waitress. This moment is a stark reminder of the societal barriers that still exist, leaving Wambui with a mixture of emotions—disappointment, frustration, and a determination to rise above it all.
Though she starts as a bus girl, Wambui's spirit shines as she becomes the most diligent and courteous worker in the house. Her story unfolds with heartwarming anecdotes and reflections on her experiences, showcasing her growth and resilience. The episode also reflects on broader themes of race, identity, and the pursuit of dreams during a turbulent time in America. By the end of her journey, Wambui finds herself thriving in a new city, proving that hard work and perseverance can lead to joy and success, even in the face of adversity. This episode is a celebration of the human spirit and an invitation to reflect on our own paths toward independence and fulfillment.
Takeaways:
- Wambui Bahati's journey begins in 1968, amidst the emotional turmoil following Dr. King's assassination.
- Her first job at Tex and Shirley's Pancake House symbolizes her quest for independence and self-sufficiency.
- Wambui faced racial barriers when she discovered her customers weren't ready for a Black waitress.
- Despite challenges, Wambui's resilience shines as she finds joy in her work and aspirations.
- The experience at Tex and Shirley's taught her valuable lessons about perseverance and hope.
- Later reflections reveal how her early triumphs in Greensboro paved the way for her success in New York City.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Tex and Shirley's Pancake House
- Hot Shops
- Howard Johnson's
Transcript
I was feeling bitter, sometimes angry, sometimes feeling like, no, I don't want to feel like that. I want to be hopeful. I want to do good. I want to move forward. You see, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Had been killed a few weeks ago.
And we were all left feeling some kind of way. Everything seemed so uncertain all of a sudden. So I decided I needed something to focus on. So I decided I'm going to get me a job.
I'd been thinking about getting me a job ever since I'd been in high school. But I never went to really get a real job.
I'd had some small jobs, like cleaning people's houses, washing clothes, babysitting, but never anything that I call a real job. So I decided now was the time because I really liked the idea of having my own money.
So I saw in the paper where Tex and Shirley's Pancake House was looking for a waitress. Now, I'd never been a waitress before, but I had heard that waitress gifts, waitresses get tips. And that sounded like a good thing to me.
So I went down and I applied for that job. When I got down there, I met Ms. Shirley. I thought Ms. Shirley was a very nice looking white woman.
And she had jet black hair that she piled on her head. Now, you would think that would look real funny, somebody piling their head all on their head.
I don't know how she got that hair to stay up there, but it was just all kind of turned in and piled up on her head. I thought it looked real good on her. And I remember that day, she was wearing a red and white checkered shirtwaist dress.
You know, shirtwaist at the top and gathered at the waist when flowed out. To this day, my favorite dress is the shirtwaist dress. I thought she looked real good that day, and I liked her.
She had a real heavy, heavy southern draw. But I liked Ms. Shirley, and I think Ms. Shirley liked me, too, because she hired me.
Now, those were the days, mind you, when you didn't have to go through or jump through a lot of hoops to get a job. Background check, credit check, all this stuff. How many jobs have you had? Where's your experience? Can I call your previous employers?
If they liked you, it seemed like they just hired you. So I was hired to work at Tex and Shirley's Pancake House. And I was so thrilled.
Now, before I left, she did Say, at this very moment, I don't need a waitress. She said, what I need at this moment is I need a bus person. Will you be a bus girl?
But the next time I need a waitress, you're going to be my new waitress. And I said, yes, ma'am, Ms. Shirley. And I started working at Tex and Shirley's Pancake House.
I'd never even been in Tex and Shirley's House, Pancake House, until I started working there. In fact, I don't remember eating at any restaurant. No, I can't recall any restaurant we ever ate at. There were a couple of reasons for that.
First, there was Jim Crow laws, okay? So there weren't a lot of places we could go when we were growing up.
Second, that would have been a really big added expense for a family of six to eat out. And third, my mother had convinced everybody nobody's cooking was better than hers.
So there was no need in going all around town trying to find some food that was going to be better than her food. So we never ate out. But I was so proud to be working there. I was the only bus girl.
The other bus people were busboys, but I was the cleanest, the fastest, the most courteous, and the most on time. I was a wonderful bus girl. While I was being a bus girl there. It was only a few days passed that I saw a new waitress come.
And I tried not to think anything about it. I said, maybe she had already been promised a job before Ms. Shirley met me. But I know the next time when they need a waitress, Ms.
Shirley is gonna let me be the next waitress. Then a few weeks passed, and I heard Ms. Shirley having a conversation with this woman. They were standing close to a table that I was busing.
And I could tell from the conversation they were having that that lady Ms. Shirley was talking to was going to be our new waitress. Well, when that lady left and Ms. Shirley went back to her office, I went into Ms.
Shirley's office. And I was trying to hold back the tears. My eyes were all watery. And I thought, well, maybe I just misunderstood something. And I said, Ms.
Shirley, I thought I. I was gonna be your next waitress if you needed a waitress. And Ms. Shirley stood up, and she looked up at the ceiling. She looked down at the floor.
She looked out the window. And while she was looking out the window, she said, I don't think my customers are ready yet. I don't think my customers are ready for.
She didn't even have to finish the sentence. I knew what she meant. Her customers were not ready for a Negro waitress. I wasn't angry at Ms. Shirley. I really wasn't. I'm not.
To this day, I still have Fond Memories of Ms. Shirley. I was angry at the world. What world is this? I thought. About a month or so later, I graduated from James B. Dudley High School.
Now I had the whole summer before me before I would be going away to college. And I decided I want to have me a real job. So I saw in the paper where this place called Hot Shops was hiring waitresses.
So I went over and I applied at Hot Shops to be a waitress. By now I had restaurant experience. They hired me right on the spot to be a waitress. I started the next day.
My shift was 6 o'clock in the morning till 2pm in the afternoon. Loved it. I loved being a waitress. And you know what?
My very first job I ever had when I got to New York City was I was a waitress at Howard Johnson's down on 6th Avenue in the Village. Oh, I loved it. And you know what? Tips really are a very good.
