How Gramps Learned About Banking

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Gramps never trusted banks. Maybe I should say she never trusted the concept of handing her hard earned money over to a white person who promised they would take care of it for her. We must remember the time period she grew up in and the things she saw. Most Black people her age hid their money at home instead of taking it to a bank. Besides, the concept of money growing over time was so foreign to most Blacks her age.



So, Gramps kept large sums of money in the house at all times. She was running a business and needed cash on hand to make change, coupled with her distrust of financial institutions. As the grandchildren got older, they began to steal from her. I should say the boys began to steal from her. There were times when they stole every penny she had. After hearing her cry and explain that her mortgage and other bills were due in days, they never admitted they took it and never volunteered to return it. The way they saw it was like this: her activities were illegal, she can make quick cash in days, and to admit it means she won't allow them in the house anymore. Everyone knew it was certain boys in the family who did it, but no one could prove it. Everyone also knew that most likely their mothers had put them up to it. Yes, Gramps' own daughters. My family is really dysfunctional.



Everytime she was ripped off, it hurt to see her upset. She never once accused the boys of any wrongdoing. I did! And so did several other family members! Eventually, her oldest daughter Bobbie sat her down and talked to her about banks and how they worked. Bobbie took her to her personal banker (Bobbie owned her own legitimate business) and got Gramps setup with an account. Miraculously, the boys and their mothers stopped coming around. They started stealing from others. Now they're all grown up and sitting in a state prison somewhere -- no exaggeration.