Nice Clean Colored Girls

Clean Colored Girls

“I’ve got the “minky” and the “Cadillac’ and I don’t want to get “dirty,” … go find a nice, clean ‘Colored girl’, O.K.?”

         The Jewish wife was specific when she gave her husband of 20 plus years permission to satisfy his sexual needs, that she no longer felt the “duty” to do.

         If he took unto himself a White woman, that would be a slap in her face. A complete betrayal of all they stood for.

         If he involved himself with another Jewish woman that would destroy her honor.  She could not hold up her head.

         A “nice clean Colored girl” she would pose no threat.

         If her husband’s indiscretions were learned about by their community, she would be looked upon as an example of what wives must endure when their husband’s eternal inherent lust falls prey to the lust that Colored people carry in their DNA!

         The whole situation would merit an understanding, sympathetic shaking of the head.  For the wife; her bravery as to the cross she must bear, and, may one day be theirs to carry also.  And for the husband; for having succumbed to the inveterate lust.  The hope for everyone involved?  “That she is a nice, clean colored girl.

         Choosing a colored girl provided another benefit.  Should the White/Jewish man impregnate the girl, there’d be no worry because Colored people are not concerned about babies born out of wedlock. The woman or girl doesn’t, won’t, can’t prove paternity.  They can’t afford attorneys.  DNA was not in use during the 50’s and 60’s and, they would not be believed anyway.

         Besides, most likely, the Colored girl would be proud of her half-White, creamy child with “good hair.”  And, she could get on Welfare.

         As a teen, I used to wonder why at night in the Colored section of my Ohio city, there were as many White men in cars trying to pick up Colored girls.  They were looking for a nice, clean one.

         This story was told to us girls who worked as telephone solicitors for the American Cancer Society in Indiana during the late 1950’s.

         Our male boss would take us 3 girls to lunch every other week; a fast food place.  This gave him a captive audience for his many stories.

         Of the 3 girls, I was the only Colored girl.  My mid-western speaking voice was well-received over the telephone, as a contrast to the Hoosier flatness spoken there, so an exception was made and I was hired.

         The insensitivity o this story seemed not to matter to my boss, nor the other girls.  I told myself that maybe he was trying to educate me…make me aware.  Or, to let me know what status Colored girls held in society…their society.  My parents certainly never told me.  I guess because they never believed it or accepted it.

                                                                Lora Harrington-Pride

                                                                8/4/25

*To see Lora's latest writings, see her Return to Writing post.