1

My Dearest Family

Olubukola Akintoroye
HON 1000
10/29/2014
Instructor Justin Rex
Essay # 2

January 1910
My dearest family,
It has been months since I first started working in Ford. I was given the task of screwing bolts
into the frame of cars, the work is simple but the hours are long. I am still adjusting to how
things work around here. Minding my own business and focusing on the task at hand keeps me
out of trouble. When on the streets of Detroit, I keep my head down to avoid eye contact, it is the
best way to move through a busy city without being stopped. But I cannot help but to feel the
stares of the people around me on my way to work and at work itself. Looks of hate, of fear, and
of lust. Considering that I am one of the few women who work in the factory and of a darker
complexion, it is no surprise.1 I am filled with unease. I am uncomfortable everywhere I go but it
is worth it is for you all. I will always keep my head up high for you all and the culture that I live
for. I miss you dearly.
Love,
Fumilayo

February 1910
My dearest family,
Did you receive the letter and money I sent you last month? I know it is not enough but please
manage. Detroit is so different from home. We have dirt roads and walk with bare feet while
1

Young, Carlene. "Assimilation and Social Change Dynamics in African and African American Communities."
Western Journal of Black Studies 27.3 (2003): 164-75. ProQuest. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.

they drive automobiles2, moving metal cart, and sport fancy foot wear, shoes of the highest
quality and a sturdy heel. The seasons come in four here while there are only two at home.3 It is
a different world here. Recently, the inspector has stopped by my house. The inspector is a man
dressed in a clean suit, he makes sure everything is in place and up to the companys standards. I
had to be rid of anything from home, the book controlled my life here. Everything was to go by
the book.4 Clean, spotless and germfree homes. Frequent visits to the physician for any injury, no
matter the size. If only this care was available for people who really need it. I hope you all are
doing well.
Love,
Fumilayo

March 1910
My dearest family,
The city is a scary place. Everyone seems to stay in their own groups, rarely any intermingling
whatsoever.5 The blacks stay with the blacks, the Europeans with other Europeans and so on. It
is not so different from home, but it feels more dangerous here. I have been told of and witnessed
the conflict of all groups. Fighting, yelling, and so much anger. I feel like a chicken walking into
a cage filled with aggressive lions. Each one ready to kill each other for the sake of one goal:

"Ford Model T assembly line." Photos/Illustrations. Library of Congress. Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO,
2014.
3
Sarkodie-Mensah, Kwasi. "Nigerian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Ed. Jeffrey Lehman.
2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 1312-1324. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
4
Ford, Henry. Ford Manual: Helpful Hints for Employees. Detroit: Ford Motor, 1915. Print.
5
Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2012. Print.

being superior. There is tension in the factory but it is much thicker outside. Stay safe my family
and pray for me.
Love,
Fumilayo

April 1910
My dearest family,
It is gone. I have lost it. My precious stone, the same one we found while out by the river side. I
remember having to hide it every time the inspector6 came by but when I looked for it at its
hiding place it was gone. Oh, where has it gone? What looked like a mere rock to others was
something of importance to me. Whenever I picked it up and feel the smooth surface I am
reminded of home, of the memory of when father told me how proud he was of me and of the
time all of us spent together gathering water. This must be a sign of bad luck. I must find it so I
can rest at ease.
Love,
Fumilayo

May 1910
My dearest family,
6

Ford, Henry. Ford Manual: Helpful Hints for Employees. Detroit: Ford Motor, 1915. Print.

I have been feeling troubled. There was a massive fight outside of the factory.7 It started off as a
simple argument and soon turned into an all-out brawl. I guess it was between workers. Punches
flying left and right, men falling to the ground, police trying to stop the violence. Even with the
huge conflict, workers were still expected to work. At lunch breaks, workers would look out the
window and cheer on or boo the men fighting. I dared not look, lunch lasted half an hour and
every minute counted. After every one had calmed down, I overheard one of the workers talking
about the cause of the brawl. It was about a man talking about how he would never have
complete devotion and faith in America. There was two sides in the arguments, one side having
mostly American born workers and the other side immigrants from different parts around the
world. Once hearing the reason of the conflict, thoughts began to scramble in my head. Am I
devoted to America? Am I willing to give my life away to a country that is not my home? Am I
even able to toss aside my origin?
Love,
Fumilayo

June 1910
My dearest family,
My relationship with the workers at Ford has improved. We sit together and talk about our
experiences coming from another country to Detroit. We shared painful moments and joyous
stories of the past. One thing they kept quiet about was their forgotten culture. They were now
American, all from different locations but becoming one in the same country. After living
7

Modern times. Dir. Charles Chaplin. Perf. Charles Chaplin. RBC Films, 1936. Film.

here for so long and working for Ford, you learn that you are better off here after all. There is
nothing to go back to in my homeland. Here I am free from poverty and hunger, One man told
me with a smile on his face. Was it the same for the rest of us? Were we all better off as
Americans? I originally came here to send money back home to keep you all from a horrible fate,
but I do feel like there is other opportunities calling me.
Love,
Fumilayo

July 1910
My dearest family,
The American flag has risen to celebrate Independence Day. I was given a flag to hang on the
door of my home and taught the national anthem by a close coworker. I celebrate the day with
my fellow workers at a small party outside of the larger festivities. We watched the red, white,
and blue fireworks shoot into the sky, sang the anthem with pride and joy and ate until our hearts
content. The celebration brought faint memories of family traditions8 that I have started to forget.
It has been so long since we have danced, ate and celebrated together. I think of home every now
and then but I have grown to love this city.
Please take care,
Fumilayo

Sarkodie-Mensah, Kwasi. "Nigerian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Ed. Jeffrey Lehman.
2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 1312-1324. Gale Virtual Reference Library.