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Home › Politics

Liz Smith | 09/20/2009 1:00 am

Liz Smith on Mile-Wide Class Differences

By Liz Smith RSS
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In response to: What is your first memory – if any – of the presence of class difference in our society?
Liz Smith
Heck, I grew up in the South just before the Great Depression. I was still very young when I saw there that class differences were miles wide between paternalistic whites and the black people we depended on to work for us and make us comfortable.
I’d say about age five, I got it! I wrote all about this in the first pages of my memoir, Natural Blonde.
Read more about: Class, Culture, Great Depression, Natural Blonde, Society, The South

6 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Charles Bardsher
Oh Liz; Thanks for reminding me I have a copy of Natural Blonde in the bookcase and will certainly "revisit it"!  Love from Texas!
By Charles Bardsher on 09/24/2009 11:13 am
Beth Cornell
Liz, I have got to get your book!! Hugs, Beth
By Beth Cornell on 09/24/2009 12:09 pm
Roxanna Chapman

We always liked hearing the stories about you getting snuck up to the movie house’s segregated balcony cause that’s where you wanted to sit and not being able to tell your mother.

By Roxanna Chapman on 09/24/2009 1:21 pm
Frannie Em
Growing up in SoCAl there were many experiences with Latinos.  My elementary school in the 5th/6th grade was pretty diverse, as was my neighborhood.  I think we were led to believe that there was a difference but as kids we all played together and I loved finding out how other families lived and what they talked about.  I thought it was interesting.
By Frannie Em on 09/24/2009 9:40 pm
macwoof woof
i am interested in reading your book now. I grew up in parkway village, which was where most of the United Nation families lived. variety was wonderful. we all seemed to be the same class. it wasn’t until we moved to westchester that i learned about the real differences in class. the ones who went to st. moritz for spring break and the ones who didn’t.
By macwoof woof on 09/24/2009 11:30 pm
Lin Cercone

Hi Liz:

Thanks for reminding me, I too will have to ck my bookcases and find Natural Blonde, its due for a re-read.  It would be GREAT if you’d write another current book.  I’d love for you to really dish on the newer celebs/pols.

FYI:  Saw you on The View today, you look FABULOUS.  How do you do it?  You never change.

By Lin Cercone on 09/25/2009 12:14 pm