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Willie Ethel Matthews
1918 was a very good year for
Houston, Texas in general and for the well known Mukes family, in
particular, insofar as they added another girl-child to the “City by the
Bayou’s” booming African American population. Perhaps it was an omen that
Susie Mukes was expecting her new daughter’s arrival at the same time
African Americans had great expectations of a better life in a nation that
they had just fought and died for on foreign soil.
History records, that about 25% of the African American soldiers who had
distinguished themselves in the Army-Air Force and infantry during World War
I were from Texas. It certainly wasn’t an unwarranted expectation, for proud
African American soldiers, who had helped defeat the Germans in France, to
think that America would be appreciative enough to reconsider some of the
Jim Crow laws that had impeded their people’s progress in the land of the
free. However, six Black Houstonians, Rodney D. Hardeway, Lowell Hodges,
Jerome Hubert, Frank Lane, Toliver Thompson and Carter W. Wesley, who had
served as officers, quickly dispelled any notion that White America would
treat their people any different.
The basis for the Black soldier’s pessimism was the following order—dated
August 7, 1918-- that went out from the headquarters of American Gen. John
J. Pershing to the French Commanders nearby. The scathing communiqué, that
was entitled "French Military Mission Stationed with the American Army:
Secret Information Concerning the Black American Troops" stated quite
succinctly (1) French Officers are not to fraternize with black officers as
equals. We must not eat with them, must not shake hands or seek to talk or
meet with them outside of the requirements of military service." (2)
American Negro troops should not be commended too highly for their valor.
And (3) Black men should be kept away from French women because any degree
of closeness between the two would greatly incense white men over "any
public expression of intimacy between white women and Black men."
A street rumor was that the Americans put the word out to the French that
the Black American men had "tails,” and if the French women "messed" with
them, these would "come-out." Meanwhile, soldiers—many seriously wounded--
returning from the war front were letting it be known that they were sick
and tired, of being sick and tired of the sub-human treatment by their
racist nation. Ironically Susie Mukes gave birth to her daughter, Willie
Ethel, on August 22, 1918, the same day that President Woodrow Wilson
commuted the sentences-- of 10 of the 16 soldiers convicted in the Camp
Logan riot-- from death to life. Thus, George and Susie’s little girl did
arrive in a better world. For sure, she certainly did her part to make it an
even better place for African Americans.
After graduating from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1934, the year that J.
C. Sanderson was elected Vice Principal to become the first Vice Principal
in the Houston and her classmate, Dicie Green, was named the “Outstanding
Female Athlete and also graduated with honors. 1934 was also the year that
the powerful Lone Star Colored Longshoremen’s Benevolent Association flexed
its muscles and virtually took over the Port of Houston (nee “The
Waterfront”), when African American dock workers refused to honor the
all-White I. L. A. strike. History records, however, that power wasn’t
conceded without a struggle. The I. L. A. called it a “Dock Worker’s reign
of terror,” but Black citizens called it a “race riot.”
The most serious incident resulting from the Longshoremen’s strike occurred
on July 15, 1934, when two cars carrying 16 Black Longshoremen was set on
fire. Meanwhile good things were happening in Houston in 1934, insofar as
the Houston Colored Junior College for Negroes began offering upper division
classes and became Houston College for Negroes. As history was being made in
‘34, Willie was united in holy matrimony to Alphonse Harrison, Sr. and began
to add to that history herself. The happy couple had seven children, but
unfortunately he passed in 1970. On March 10, 1978 Willie, who was employed
as a Special Education Assistant for the Los Angeles Unified School
District, met and married Herman J. Matthews. Herman passed in December of
1995 and Sis. Matthews departed this life on December 5, 2003.
During the Dec. 12, 2003 celebration of her life, Spencer Randall, Pearline
Crump, Andre Henry honored her with song, pray and resolutions. Rev. Frank
Dewalt, Sr, eulogized her as a faithful member of Zion Star Missionary
Baptist Church. She served for twenty-seven years, freely giving her time to
many ministries. She was a loyal First Lady of Zion Star, Mother of the
Church, Secretary, Treasurer, and Mission member and sang with the Adult
Choir. She loved reading and studying scripture and often passed time by
fishing, telling jokes, and working her puzzle books. Two sons, Alphonse
Harrison, Jr. and Willie Earl Harrison, preceded her in death. Mark Henry,
Dietrich Mukes, Nathaniel Crump, Andre’ Henry, Roderick Mukes and Corey
Mukes were active pallbearers.
Richard Brown, Jerome Barber, George Harrison, Dwain Brown, Danielle
Crumpler and Craig Harrison were honorary pallbearers for, Sis. Matthews,
who is survived by her children, Betty Mitchell, Helen Smith, Frances
Harrison-Hunnicutt, George A. Harrison, and Craig R. Harrison;
grandchildren, Debbie, Mark, Andre, MicheLe, Derrick, Tracy, Lisa, Lavon,
Juan, Kevin, Richard, Dwain. Shawn, Jerome, Danelle, Yolanda, and Kharon;
seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a host of
other relatives and friends. |
