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Biography

James Robinson was born in Tennessee in 1958. As a child, he moved to Cedar Rapids with his family. He grew up in Iowa and attended Kirkwood College and Coe College, then became a food inspector in packing plants. Later, he became Cedar Rapids' first African American city supervisor, working in public transit. In 1998, he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and given a month to live. He beat cancer and has written a book of poems, The Cause of My Life. He is now retired and at work on a second book.

Transcript

Transcription of James Robinson March 2, 2010

SI-Hello, my name is Dante Benjegerdes. Today is October 17, 2009. I’m interviewing James W. Robinson. Could you please spell your name? Where were you from?

James-I was born in a small town called Epworth, Tennessee. I was born at home. I was not born in a hospital. At that time, where I lived, children were being born at their homes with the help, of what they called them midwives.

SI-Really. What brings you to Iowa?

James-My mother’s family come here for a better education. So, when she came here for a better education for herself, we come along with her then.

SI-So where did you go to school?

James-I started out going to a grade school called Tyler Elementary, now called...then I went from Tyler to McKinley school and then I went to Washington High School and then I went to Kirkwood and Coe College.

SI-What did you study in college?

James-I studied to be a government inspector, food inspector. And then I turned around and changed it to computer operations. Yes.

SI-What was one of the main events that happened in your life?

James-One of the main events? I was ....the year that I had my cancerous brain tumor was also the year that my wife agreed to marry me. She agreed to marry me when I was on life support so 1998 was a very main event in my live. Yes. I had a cancerous brain tumor operation in 1998, where I was told I had two to four weeks to live and I just passed my 11th year of survival.

SI-How’s it like recuperating after the brain tumor?

James-Well it wasn’t easy. It was a long road. I had to learn to eat, speak, and drink, add and subtract all over again and at the time, at the onset of this cancerous brain tumor I was very healthy then. I was competing in physical competition. Weight lifting, power lifting and I was a very strong man and things were going good for me. I never expected it. But like I said I made it! I am alive, through God’s blessing. I am a very....believer in Jesus Christ and the Lord and I believe they’re the ones that brought me through it.

SI-So what is your profession?

James- I was the transit operation supervisor which meant the city buses. I hired, trained and supervised the city bus drivers. I was responsible for the ground transportation center. I had like 60 employees under me that I was responsible for.

SI-Were there any road blocks when you were working?

James-Road blocks as far as...yes, I was the first African American city supervisor. Of course, there were people that were here longer than I was born and all of a sudden I’m their supervisor. And some of them didn’t care to have African American, especially one that was younger than they were, telling them what to do. That would be my first...that would be one of the road blocks. Then again, all the road blocks that come to me, I busted through them. I would never be held back.

SI-How did you bust through the road block of other....... transit employees?

James-Well, I just told them that I knew my job and I was going to be fair to everyone, regardless of race, age or gender. After a while they just got to respect me. I told them I was going to be as fair as I could. Thank you for that question. Yes?

SI-Did you face much discrimination or segregation growing up in Cedar Rapids?

James- Not in Cedar Rapids, not so much....yes...in Tennessee, which is in the south at that time. We came up here during what you call the Jim Crow Era. Ever heard of that? Jim Crow? That was a time of segregation. We came up at that time so we ran into a lot of discrimination then, but not so much in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

SI-How long have you and your wife been married?

James-We will be 11 years on November 28. Like I said it was the same year I had my cancerous brain tumor operation. We got married right after I got out of the hospital.

SI-I guess that’s a great welcome home isn’t it!

James-Yes it does. Thank you! Yes?

SI-How did you and your wife meet?

James- That was on a blind date. Her friend set us up. You know what a blind date is? We were just introduced by somebody else.

SI-So basically it started out trying?

James-We didn’t know each other. So we started out...it took us a while just to get to know each other’s quirks, but it worked out good. Like I said we have been married over 11 years. Yes?

SI-Do you have any children?

James-Yes. I have two daughters and six grandsons. Yes?

SI-What are your daughters’ names?

James-Melinda and Kristin.

SI-So what was your biggest accomplishment?

James-What was my biggest accomplishment? Well, staying alive, I think, and I always wanted to write a book...so I think... and raise a family. I thought if I raised my kids to stay out of jail and stay alive until they are 18 and graduate, I figure I’ve done pretty good. So I’ve reached both goals.

SI-So is this your book?

James-Yes it is.

SI-It’s your book. What is it about?

James- “The Cause of my Life.” It is a collection of poems about my life. From my birth to... my conception to today.

SI-Okay. Could you read us one of the poems from in there?

James-Sure can. I will read you one of my favorites. The name of this poem: “I Have Never Seen My Mother Cry.” This poem I’ve had the privilege of reading here at the museum on Mother’s Day and they had a theme of hats. I will start off, “Fatherless, yet teardrops never left my eyes, because I have never seen my mother cry. Equality for her was never in sight. She continued to work both day and night. However I have never seen my mother cry. Tragedy was always near; losing the one she loved so dear; nevertheless, I never have never seen my mother cry. Therefore in my sorrows and tribulations you wonder why, regardless of the situations, teardrops will never leave my eye. It’s because, I never have seen my mother cry.”

SI-So what was the event that made you write that?

James-Well, my mother raised eight children by herself and she went through quite a bit and she survived it. And because she did, I learned that I can do almost anything if I just work hard at it. Yes?

SI-So how did you get your book published?

James-Well I searched and searched around for publishers to match my form of writing. I had to go through several, before I finally found a good match, but I did and I was satisfied. I am working on a second book and I will use the same publisher again.

SI-What is the name of the publisher? What is the name of the publisher of this book?

James-Ba Har Publishing, out of Waterloo, Iowa. Yes?

SI-What made you write poems instead of a story?

James-My poems are short stories of my life. They are short stories. Now my third book will be a collection of poems which will make it a long, long, long, long story book.

SI-So what are the names of the other two books that you’ve published?

James-The next book I am working on is called, “Influencing Factors in my Life.” So anything that has influenced my life negative or positive I am writing about that in my next book. Yes?

SI-How many books are you planning to make?

James-Well, I guess whatever touches my heart. I didn’t know that I was going to start on the second one, and it just started coming out of me. I knew this was in my heart and I had to put it down on paper. So whatever touches me to write, I will.

SI-How did you start? Did you just start writing about your life?

James-Yes.

SI-Then figure out that you could make it into a book?

James-Yes.

SI-Have you ever had problems writing your books?

James-Having any problems writing? There have been times when I can’t think of anything. And so it takes me a few days to come up with something. I tried to learn something every day in life. So that gives me the idea to write.

SI-So you’ve had writer’s block for a while.

James-Yes, I’ve had that several times. Yes?

SI-I’d like to be a writer someday. Do you have any advice for me?

James-Yes, just when you are ready to write, write what you know and do your best. Then get as much information as you can, then seek out publishers and get information on those publishers and find the one that is going to work for you, in what you’re writing. Yes?

SI-What does your mom think about you being an author?

James-Oh, she loves it, she supported me. I even put it in the back here of my... OK, I’m back here. I was born into the world with the odds stacked against me in being both black and poor. Nevertheless, the most valuable commodity in my fatherless family and I had was a multitude of love and support. This is something precious and not to be purchased. Regardless of color, faith or heritage one may pronounce themselves to be, God is still in the busing business. I decided I would use all the skills and knowledge provided by my mother and the strength to support diversity...from my brothers and sisters, change my life and prepare for my future. Unfortunately, I was about to face tribulations that I could not prepare for. Moreover the love and support I received from my beautiful wife continues to be a positive factor in my life. In addition, I have special thanks for all those who encouraged me to get my thoughts out of my head and put them down on paper. Also thank you for allowing me to share the moments of happiness, sadness, kindness and love I have experienced in the poetic manner.

SI-That’s beautiful.

James-Thank you.

SI-So did you have fun doing this interview with us?

James-Yes, I had fun. It was wonderful. I’m having a good time.

SI-Thank you. Well, thank you for your contributions to all of us and you staying here and your time and telling us about yourself.

James-You’re quite welcome. You’re quite welcome.