A REMEMBERAMBLE March 31/2026

GOOD MORNING FRIENDS

I am saddened by this photograph, which was taken only a few years ago, as it was from the time when my face and complexion had not worsened to the condition it soon became, and thereafter my face was riddled with dermatological problems. Please don't protest that I look fine, because I do not. It is one reason I am as reclusive as I am. Okay, we will move on along for now. We all must whine a bit now and again. You know, there were once many "juke joints," but most have ridden into the sunset. Many were "night clubs," and they served food, alcohol, and had music for the dancing. Some were simply bars with a dance floor and a juke box. In those days, the reason such places were clubs was to exclude non-whites from patronizing them. Segregation then was de rigueur, and the law upheld it. There were "supper clubs," as well, again for purposes of segregation, they were minimally clubs, suggesting that one must be a member or the guest of a member to patronize the establishment. In truth, there was no membership, no list of members, but the "membership" would be enforced should a non-white attempt to enter. There were several of such supper clubs and night clubs, in most areas, and were very popular. There were a few in our county that were very nice establishments, with good bands, food, and drink. There were some with interesting names, but the one near Aline that was, "Top Cat & Ethel's," place wins the blue ribbon in the juke joint name game. Around Emanuel, there was Club 56 which is now the Masonic/Shriner's Lodge, there was the Lighthouse, the Twentieth Century Club, and more, those are long gone. There were some notoriously sorry and trashy joints that gave run-of-the-mill prostitutes' shebangs a bad name. The very worst in Swainsboro was "A. M. Herrington's," on Coleman Street. You just have no idea what a satan's playground that place was. No decent people went there. It had accommodations for some working girls known loosely (pun intended) as, "A.M.'s Angels." I recall at least two times when I was young, hearing public service spots aired on our radio station, WJAT concerning A.M.'s Angels, to wit: anyone having recently visited with women at A.M. Herrington's establishment, should come to the Emanuel County Health Department for treatment. Yep! On the radio, no less! I reckon that is a great stopping point.

Numbers 6: 24-2, KJV

we boyz three, babee conway, lil merle, & me