Interviewee: Ruby Lyons Rodriquez
Interviewer: Lissandra Nicole Colon
Relationship: Great Grand Mother
Date: March 14, 2001
 

Mother Leaves Home to Find a Better Life for Her Kids

What is your full name?

My full name is Ruby Lyons Rodriquez

What is your nationality?

I'm a mixture of things which are African American, Indian, and White

What is your date of birth?

My birthday is September 15, 1922

Where were you born?

I was born in Lowdes County, Alabama

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

I was brought here as a child after my parents passed away. My family brought me here.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

Both of my parents passed away so I came to live with my aunt.

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

There was a lot of space for you to fun around a play. It also was a small town and every one knew each other.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

All of my family lived here.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

By train, it was a nice trip.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

When I was grown and married. I left Philly and moved to Altuna, Pa. When I came back after I had separated from my first husband. I wanted to live near my family so I stayed with one of my aunts. Later I found a apartment for me and my kids.

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

My children all five of them.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?

The streets in Altuna went up and down like hill which looked a lot like San Francisco. And there was more land around between the houses.

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

I started working for the first time. In Altuna I didn't have to work my husband worked and I stayed home with the kids.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

It would be a better place for me to raise me kids at

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

I wanted to make a better life for my children, and I felt that in Philly I could do so.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

When I first moved here there where no drugs being sold on the corners. And the people were a lot nicer back then. You were not scared to walk out of your house. The neighborhood that I lived in is not the same, it has went down. It was a lot nicer to live in back them.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left behind all of my in-laws and a house that I owned.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

When every I lost my job I would have to go on welfare because I no longer had my husband paying for every thing.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

I had around two or three hundred that was give to me by my husband.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I adapted very well with the help of my family. I became involved with a wonderful church. And made allot of friends.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

I learned to take care of myself and my children.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

High School

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

No

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

There is nothing that wound make me go back. Only maybe to visit my family. I am happy living in Philadelphia.

Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?

I worked in a lamp shad factory. It was kind of hard, but I had to make money to feed my children.

Is there anything you would like to add?

By me moving to Philadelphia I learned to raise my children on my own. Three daughter, two sons who are now deceased and one adopted daughter. I found God when I moved here at St. Simeons Lutheran Church. I also have nineteen grant children, twenty five great grand children (you being one of them). I can say that by me moving here was the best thing that I have ever done.

5/6/2001