A Bronzeville Story
Elementary: Grades 3–4
Story
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Uncle Obie was an Old Settler. That meant he'd lived in Chicago since even before World War I. So he had had plenty of time to settle in and make the most of his own opportunities. Now he owned this whole big house and a lot more, too. He and Lurlene lived on the top floor. But he had turned the first two floors into apartments and rented them out. Penny could see Obie must be doing as well for himself as Mama had said.
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"What's Bronzeville, Uncle?" she asked now. Lurlene snorted, like it was the dumbest question in the world.
If Uncle Obie heard her, he didn't let on. "Bronzeville is this here Chicago neighborhood, Niece," he explained. Most of those living around here these days are black folks. So Bronzeville just stuck, to represent the color of beautiful skin."
"Just don't try moving away from here though, tell you that," Lurlene said, still in that harsh low voice she seemed so fond of using. The grownups were talking among themselves and paid no attention. Cleet just laughed.
"Looks like a fine enough place to live to me," he told Lurlene.
"You'll see," she replied sullenly.
"You're on the second floor," Uncle Obie said, as they went in. He led them up a narrow flight of stairs. The carpeting was worn, but Penny was impressed. They'd never had any such thing at home.
"Here we go," Obie said, unlocking a door at the end of the hall. "See how you like it. It's the best I got right now."
Penny's eyes widened as Uncle Obie switched on an overhead light. The room they were standing in was half kitchen and half sitting room. But it looked huge.
"Look around!" Obie encouraged. Penny did not hesitate. She headed straight for one of the best things the apartment had to offer—a real sink. She ran her hand along the smooth white porcelain edge. Then she reached out and slowly turned one of the faucet handles, almost scared to touch it. When cool water came spilling out, she giggled excitedly.
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The apartment had other good things, too. Cleet plopped down in one of the two comfy chairs, switching an electric table lamp on and off, on and off, grinning wide the whole time. Obie showed Daddy how the couch pulled out to make a bed, while Mama went back to inspect the apartment's other room—a whole separate bedroom with twin beds.
"Can't be helped that it's not bigger," Uncle Obie said apologetically. "Most apartments around here are kitchenettes. That's a single room less than half this size, with a whole family living in it!"
Penny—and the rest of her family, she knew—hardly heard his apologies they were so impressed. Their Mississippi house had been far smaller than this place. And it hadn't had running water or electric lights either. The new apartment was simple and spare, but it could not have been tidier.
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