Emma Crump
Emma Crump and her second husband, George Crump, became sharecroppers in 1910, a position created maliciously to continue to take advantage of African Americans after slavery was abolished by placing overwhelming debt and duties on the sharecroppers. However, the couple was able to get out of the malicious cycle and eventually got other jobs. Emma Crump went on to work as a laundress while her husband worked as a yard mower. Manual labor jobs like the Crumps’ often lead to a lack of generational wealth; however, by leaving their work as sharecrop farmers, they significantly helped their future offspring. Despite their financial struggles, the Crumps were still able to rent a house on Baptist Hill Road for four dollars along with supporting their four children. Only one of those children, Annie, was born during Emma’s marriage with George. The other three, Victoria, Bessie, and Lemuel, were born during a previous marriage and all took her maiden name of Frazier. Along with their family, the Crumps also lodged a woman named Dehila. Records say Emma and George were illiterate, neither making it past a second-grade education, which explains why they would rent out to someone like Deliha, who could read and assist with payments.
Since she was born in 1872, Emma Crump grew up in the age of Reconstruction, which was a particularly difficult time for Black people in southern society as laws and restrictions were put in place to prohibit any growth or success, which explains why both Crumps worked manual labor jobs. Eventually, Emma’s eldest daughter from her previous marriage, Victoria, took over as the lead of the house with her husband, Theola Pitts, until he died in 1936. Victoria led the family, including her mother through the rough era of the Great Depression. Emma Crump exceeded the average life expectancy of African American women, but at the age of 72, Emma Crump passed away on February 19th, 1944.
Since she was born in 1872, Emma Crump grew up in the age of Reconstruction, which was a particularly difficult time for Black people in southern society as laws and restrictions were put in place to prohibit any growth or success, which explains why both Crumps worked manual labor jobs. Eventually, Emma’s eldest daughter from her previous marriage, Victoria, took over as the lead of the house with her husband, Theola Pitts, until he died in 1936. Victoria led the family, including her mother through the rough era of the Great Depression. Emma Crump exceeded the average life expectancy of African American women, but at the age of 72, Emma Crump passed away on February 19th, 1944.
Contributed by Eliana and Lexi from Auburn High School