MSM 723 - Claudette Romious - Daddy's Alligator Juke Joint

Claudette Romious grew up the Delta town of Alligator, Mississippi. In this episode, she discusses her father's various business ventures including a garage, gas station, café, grocery store and juke joint. She also shares her memories of growing up as the daughter of a hardworking African-American entrepreneur. The Rabbit Foot Minstrels tent show travelled the South entertaining both white and black audiences. Claudette Romious recalls sneaking into the adult-oriented burlesque show as a child. As a teenager, Romious and her sisters worked in their father's juke joint on the weekends. She describes learning how to handle drunk customers and not be afraid of confrontations. When Romious's father passed away in 1979, people called and came from all over the country to express their condolences. She remembers the diverse array of mourners and their stories of how her father had helped each of them to achieve their dreams.