Transcript | Annotation | Source: 89-4286-C-2-A-8-22-26 | Month Index
The strike continues– talk of a general strike– Betty picks me up each morning.
Again, no one gave me any work until late afternoon.
After making my journal entry, I spent most of my time practicing on the MagCd, using the instruction book– I was trying to master the use of the index return and the track link so as to be able to revise copy.
At noon I went to the PG&E building to hear the SFSU American Issues Forum. Last week I had missed Urban Whitaker because I had stayed out sick. Norma McCoy, child psychologist, was the speaker today. She spoke on changing family life. Statistics she gave showed the rapid fluctuations that have given place in the areas of the role of women, care of children, increase in suicide, homicide, delinquency among the young. She took a largely pessimistic view. Her special field is sex differences. I ate my lunch during the lecture.
About 3.00 Betty Vasil brought in a xerox job on which she had several of the secretaries working. I had to xerox an entire file of some 288 pages. The case concerned an alleged violation by Bechtel of federal safety rules on a construction job. I had to use a ditto machine on the 22nd floor and use supplies of other secretaries. I barely finished before the close of the work day.
Betty Barclay waited tonight for the traffic to thin out, so we didn’t leave the office until about 5.15.
Received my federal income tax refund tonight. $114.10.
I didn’t have time for a nap. I got some dinner and changed clothes. Christians phoned at 7.30 and took me to service.
Rain was pouring down.
Tried to find out from several people how to get a new member card.
Testimonials were heard.
Jim came out, in an ebullient mood, starting with, “Everyone say ‘Shit on church.’” He paid tribute to the people who had been wonderful in getting our newspaper out. We distributed a half million copies this week. He said our enemies have made us mean. He told of the Doukhobors in Canada who maintained their freedom though on one occasion they had to strip all their clothes off and appear nude in protest against restrictions. “Jesus was a radical son of a bitch.” He spoke of the difficulties which the enemy had put in our way this past week or so. All black leaders and progressive whites had begun to suffer oppression. Playboy had made a mockery of Cecil Williams. He told Jim he couldn’t get any of his congregation to write letters for him. Jim told him, “We’ll write for you, Cecil.” Liberals are no good. They won’t back you up. Even some of our own people have deserted us. If it hadn’t been for the people from LA, this auditorium wouldn’t have been filled tonight, as it usually is, because “some of those folks stayed home.” He told of the disgraceful behavior of the Indians on Saturday in connection with Dennis Banks. They wouldn’t ride with blacks, had to sit with people of their own tribe. Dennis Banks told the newspapers “not to hurt this man. He’s the only friend I’ve got.” The appearance of our newspaper and the seniors who were climbing hills and steps to deliver it made a big impression on newspaper people. Jim was lavish in his praise for “you good motherfuckers.” who worked. William Kuntzler, liberal lawyer who had defended so many liberal leaders, told him on Sunday, “I’ve been so lonely. I wish I had a family like this.”
The congregation demonstrated triumphantly, singing and shouting and Jim leading them danced. Then he turned his back on the audience and went down quickly from the podium. I had a seat beside Magnolia. I told her perhaps Jim was ill. He came back in a few minutes with tears in his eye, said “I hate to see that some of you are not here.” I made a plastic covering for some pictures from the SF Chronicle which showed a middle-class black man being beaten up by whites in Boston and stabbing him with the standard of an American flag. Jim had it passed around through the congregation.
Jim said we wouldn’t go to LA this weekend while we were under fire.
The offering was taken.
Jim gave commendations. JC Williams and Pauline Groot for their work on the newspapers. Colton Henry for hard work. Vernell Henderson for her help in the communes. Clifford Gieg for his work in the carpentry department and his socialism attitude in the Temple. He’d the head of his class. Maya Ijames who was sweeping the stairs “because they needed it.” Joe Beam who takes a security task on himself to guard the stairs. Connie Fromm for many extra services.
A film was shown called “African Drought” about the famine conditions in a former French possession in equatorial Africa. Children, starving, being eaten up by flies, were depicted. The desert is encroaching further each year. The original grass has been replaced by American advice with a type which is not drought resistant.
Jim warned of what might result if a general strike is called in the Bay Area. America is beginning to fall apart.
Judy Merriam and Frances Johnson did dishes for the crowd which came from LA. Bobby Stroud is very cooperative in the commune. He is thinking of marine biology as a career. Frances Johnson was also commended for work on the distribution of newspapers.
KGO-TV sent us two drug addicts for rehabilitation and Joe Wilson has been doing a wonderful job with them.
Mary Ann Casanova is tireless in her attention to children. Maud Perkins has given exceptional service in two areas: sewing and in the Redwood Valley kitchen.
Tobiana Stone was brought on floor. She has been behaving badly, gets spankings, she missed the children’s meeting and lied. As she has been good before, she gets a break from Dad: “Be good and straighten up.”
A large amount of beef has been purchased for the Temple.
Jim was dismissing the meeting early as we have three big tasks ahead of us. The meat has to be cut up, newspapers delivered and letters written for a possible emergency and be ready to go.
Diane Lundquist will be opening up a store in San Francisco on Divisidero. She has maintained a good attitude through severe changes.
I volunteered to take one of the guests from L.A. home, although at first I had thought it would be too much for me while I was working. A woman who had once stayed with me in Redwood Valley, asked to go home with me, Lavana James. I told her to get her luggage and wait for me downstairs by the front door. I checked again to see what to do to get a new membership card. I was told to see Yolanda Williams but couldn’t find her. I also tried to find some transportation to bring Lavana to the Temple tomorrow, as I assumed she would be coming back to help deliver newspapers. All cars are being used to deliver newspapers so I did not have an success.
I waited a long time with Lavana for Bob Christian, feared that he had gone. But I believe he was taking others home. Though I told Lavana not to move, she went back to look for a blanket. Bob already had a load and to told him to go on. I didn’t know how we were going to get a ride. Glenn Hennington took us. He is in charge of transportation for the Temple. He said he would get only an hour’s sleep tonight.
We got home about 2.00. Lavana was tired after two trips from LA and delivering newspapers for two days, so she didn’t want to return to the Temple tomorrow. She is 75. She said she went back to LA on Sunday evening because she didn’t have enough underwear with her. On Monday people were called and asked if they would return to San Francisco. She suffers from arthritis and her legs were giving her trouble.
I washed dishes. I had some toast and peanut butter and toast and jam and Sanka. Lavana had gone to bed on my bed and I slept in my sleeping bag on the floor. I went to bed about 3.00.