Thanks much for the careful attention to detail and historical reference . Ignorance is not bliss, however we seek and gain knowledge when ready to hear. . ….I had heard the reference to turpentine negroes before … a bit different story from my mother in law … the pine forests had a different landscape than the citrus groves . Work was plentiful …Black folk had a smelly difficult and dangerous job in the pine forests and in the production and harvesting of turpentine . Once the work was completed in five and ten year cycles, the land and intensive labor was considered useless . Turpentine like cotton, tobacco, that required intensive “free” near free labor…. This was a huge profitable industry … especially in times of war, industrialization .. they were always finding uses. Many blacks were able to purchase the land abandoned. Some became wealthy or the basis of a land owning working middle class. The kkk slur was related to that shift in dynamic of access to business and agriculture. They weren’t allowing them to purchase or grow land suitable for citrus and land/ real estate development. The reference was a smear that you think you have something. .. my grandchildren benefitted from their frugal ways and holding on … I love oral history; interdisciplinary studies and sharing memories. Many black folk were ashamed of working pine fields and smelling like what they did all day. Check out the images in the archival films when you have time.


https://youtu.be/lUcrZU_7ClI?si=bIucrd6c8Q9kUMgx

https://youtu.be/QzNxPY3ewas?si=wRlK2XMVKt_KJ6cf