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Moten John Simpson, Sr.
In spite of the fact Africans
history in America, that provokes more shame than acclaim, insofar as they
were literally kidnapped from their homeland and enslaved in “the land of
the free,” African warriors have always been ready, willing and quite able
to answer the call to duty to protect a nation that has yet to live up to
its promises. “The American Dream” notwithstanding, Black American’s
patriotism to their country has been constant, even though they’ve never
been allowed to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness unencumbered
by prejudice, discrimination and racist. History does not lie, therefore it
was as written in the African American Odyssey that can be found in a
manuscript that’s found in A. Phillip Randolph Institute in Washington, D.C.
The well researched and detailed account of Black American’s history
discloses that, “The stock market crash of 1929 caused soup lines to become
the order of the day for the skilled and unskilled alike in urban areas
across the nation. African Americans in both cities and rural areas, many
already living in poverty, suffered greatly from the economic depression.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected in 1932, he promised a "new deal"
for all Americans that would provide them with security from "the cradle to
the grave." Although there were many inequities in the New Deal housing,
agricultural and economic programs, Blacks had opportunities to obtain
employment, some in areas previously closed to them.
Black writers, for example, participated in the New Deals writing projects,
while other Black Americans interviewed former slaves for the Works Project
Administration (WPA). These New Deal programs generated numerous documents
that found their way to the Library's collections. The New Deal programs did
not end the Depression. It was the growing storm clouds in Europe, American
aid to the Allies, and ultimately, U.S. entry into World War II after the
bombing of Pearl Harbor that revitalized the nation's economy. Remembering
their experiences in World War I, African American soldiers and civilians
were increasingly unwilling to quietly accept a segregated army or the
discriminatory conditions they had previously endured.
“Northern Black troops sent to the South for training often had violent
encounters with white citizens there. Black-owned newspapers protested
segregation, mistreatment, and discrimination. Labor leader A. Philip
Randolph threatened a march on Washington, D.C. by hundreds of thousands of
Blacks in 1941 to protest job discrimination in defense industries and the
military. To avoid this protest, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order
8802, reaffirming the "policy of full participation in the defense program
by all persons, regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin.
Nevertheless, in spite of Black men’s patriotism, “Jim Crow” laws still
mandated that Blacks have separate facilities for travel, lodging, eating
and drinking, worship, housing, and other aspects of the social and economic
life.
“However, according to Randolph’s papers, “African American veterans
returning to the South after military service were often unwilling to be
subjected to the humiliation and degradation of segregation and
discrimination in the land for which they served and shed blood. Some
whites, especially in the South, felt that these veterans needed to be
terrorized into submission, whether they wore the nation’s uniform or not.”
Telling it like it was aside, it is interesting to note that serving the
military often was the highlight of many African American men’s lives. Thus,
their funeral programs more times than not will have a photo of them in
dress uniform on the cover. And so it was, when the long and productive life
of Moten John Simpson, Sr. was celebrated at Ross Mortuary, 3618 Lyons Ave.
on Dec. 5, 2003, that was officiated by Rev. Sheila Simpson.
John was born August 4, 1915 in Normangee, Texas to Mr. Verge Simpson and
Mrs. Mary Murphy Simpson. He received his education at Negro Community
School in Normangee, Texas. He was the second oldest of twelve children. Mr.
Simpson married Mozella Holland on May 10, 1937 and to this union seven
children were born. Two children preceded him in death, Bobby Joe and David
Michael, and his wife, Mozella.
He was also married to the late Willie Cleo Simpson. In the interim, Simpson
went marching off to war along with over 2.5 million Black Americans after
the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.Simpson not only
experienced that era, but was fortunate to live to see great advancement for
his people before he passed away on Monday, December 1, 2003 in the home of
his daughter.
Ironically Moten John died six days before America would commemorate “The
Day That Shall Live In Infamy.” He leaves to cherish his memory five
children: John F. Simpson (Sarah), Connie Simpson, Moten Simpson, Jr., Rev.
Shelia Simpson, and Phyllis Simpson Tiggs; six grandchildren and thirteen
great grandchildren; two brothers, Rev. W. G. Simpson of Houston, Texas, and
Dr. Ocleris Simpson of Guthrie, Oklahoma; one sister, Mrs. Mae Reed of
Hempstead, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and
friends. Moten John Simpson, Sr. also left his legacy of service to his
country that he lived to see get better and died still hoping that one day,
“We Shall Overcome.”
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