Novak Digital Interview Collection: Detroit migration series

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT KEITH ARNOLD

Interviewee: Keith Arnold
DOB: April 5, 1943
POB: Buffalo, New York
Interviewer: Ashley Turner
Interview Date: February 22, 2012
Location: Keith Arnolds home on Detroits west side
Transcription by Nathan Katzin
Interview No.: 02- 22-2012-KA (audio digital file, approximate total length in minutes
52:38)
Summary: Keith Arnold was born April 5, 1943. He was raised in Buffalo, New York. In this
interview, Keith Arnold revisits living in the state of New York as a child and young adult. He
recounts his experience as a child with his friends and what it was like to grow up in Buffalo. Then
he goes on to tell how and when he migrated to Michigan, and what life was like when he arrived
to Detroit.
Subject Headings: Migration to Detroit; Buffalo, New York
Comments: Italicized text is interviewer. Counter index corresponds to track times when loaded
into iTunes.
TRANSCRIPT
Keith Arnold Interview Transcription
00.00
Interviewer: Okay, the name of the interviewer is Ashley Turner, the name of the interviewee is
Keith Arnold. The days date is Feb. 22nd, 2012, the place is Detroit, west side in Mr. Arnolds
home. I have went over the confidentiality and consent form. I have read to you the confidentiality
and, you know, why I am doing this. Have you signed the consent form, do I have your consent?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Okay. So I want to start off the interview by asking you, how are you doing
today?
Keith Arnold : Im doing real good, after
Interviewer: Okay. Allright, so, you had to go to dialysis today?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: How was that?
Keith Arnold : Well, its not an experience youd want to be in, but have to deal with it to keep
living.
Interviewer: Yeah. I just want to go in, I want to go into the interview. First of all, where are you
originally from?
Keith Arnold : From Buffalo, New York.
Interviewer: Okay. So you were born there?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Around-When were you born?
Keith Arnold : I was born April the 5th, 1943.
Interviewer: Okay, can you tell me a little about, a little bit about the time and how it
was when you were born in New York? Like the time frame and how things were going
on around. Do you know of any of that?
Keith Arnold : Not when I was born.
Interviewer: Okay, so you never heard any stories or anything about what the times were like?
Keith Arnold : No, not really. Maybe a little later in life I did.
Interviewer: You heard about the 40s later in life?
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Okay. Did you grow up in New York?
Keith Arnold : Until I was 21 or 2.
Interviewer: Okay, so can you tell me a little bit about what it was like when you were
growing up there?
Keith Arnold : Mmmmit was a fun place, had a lot of friends and neighbors there. Small
neighborhood. Had my best friend lived next door to me in a house that was, uh, owned by my
grandmother and grandfather and them. Like a duplex, not a duplex, another home-that belonged
to the home we lived in. And, had a bunch of friends on the street.
We played all kinds of games and. basketball and baseball and swimming and things we used
to do. Like go to the slaughterhouse and catch chickens (laughs) and bring em home try to cook
em and our parents would get mad because wed bringing home roosters. Our parents were getting
mad because we were bringing home roosters. We didnt know the difference between-
Interviewer: Were they alive?
Keith Arnold : -yeah, a rooster or a hen. Yeah. And one day, should I tell this story?
Interviewer: Yeah, go ahead- go on.
Keith Arnold : And one day, while I was out there, I fell in a whole chicken mess. If you know
what Im talking about?
Interviewer: In some chicken poop.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: (laughs)
Keith Arnold : And I had to get on the bus to come home (laughs). so you can imagine how
bad that was.
Interviewer: So you had to sit on the bus with the poo on you?
Keith Arnold : Yes. Uh huh.
Interviewer: Oh man. So you had, so you pretty much had fun growing up in New York.
03.42
Keith Arnold : Oh yes, I had a ton of fun. We had the time we used to play king of the mountain.
Cause we had so much snow in Buffalo, that when the trucks pushed it to the side you could look
out your house window, you couldnt even see the streets. And we called them king, we called
them mountains- so wed all go up to the top of that mountain see who could stay up there longest
without getting thrown off.
Interviewer: Without sliding off of the mountain?
Keith Arnold : Without getting thrown off. By your friends.
Interviewer: Oh, your friends would throw you off the mountain.
Keith Arnold : Yeah, we called it king of the mountain. Whoever could get up there and stay the
longest.
Interviewer: Oh, okay. So was it- it was more like a challenge or a fight or something?
Keith Arnold : Yeah, like a fun game. Wed go in the back of cars in the winter and slide down
the street. We knew it was dangerous and the wrong thing to do but we did it anyhow. Nobody
never got hurt, but it was stupid thing to do.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : What else did I do? UmDid a lot of sport things. You know, a lot of
competition like that. Trying to run track. I ran track when I was in school. And ahh, I was pretty
good. What else did I do? Did a lot of sports. Mostly everyone in the neighborhood tried to do a
lot of sport things.
Interviewer: Stay active.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: So, I know you mentioned before you said something about your friends and your best
friends
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: How did you meet your friends, and what were they like?
Keith Arnold : Well like I said, my best friend he lived next door in a house that was a part of our
house, or some kind of waydo that
Interviewer: Like it was connected. Like it-
Keith Arnold : It wasnt connected but it belonged to that house. It was like a, back in the day-
like maybe the...we had a big house and they had a little house. Could have been like something
from the south where they had a little houses for the servants and the maids and stuff and the big
house for the people and owners.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Kind of like that.
Interviewer: So what were they like? I mean, what were your friends like when they were growing
up? Were they?
Keith Arnold : Well my best friend Delbert, hes kind of a big time operator here. Hes got a big
company that produces wheels for General Motors.
Interviewer: Here in Michigan?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm. In Flint.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Was in Flint. Now they might have moved since I seen him last.
Interviewer: Is he still living?
Keith Arnold : Yes. Mmmhm.
Interviewer: So how was he when you guys were growing up? Was he pretty outgoing like he is
now?
Keith Arnold : Yeah he was very, he was a brain guy. He was very, very smart.
Interviewer: Real smart.
Keith Arnold : Books and stuff. He went to college got some degrees and opened up a business.
He got married had a couple kids and they opened up a business-yeah.
Interviewer: So is that who you pretty much spent most of your time with?
Keith Arnold : Yeah, when I was younger. Then there was a couple more kids that I went to
school with and we used to like spend the night at each others house. You know Im black and
they were white and we had a good communication with each other.
Interviewer: I heard you say that youre black. Were all your friends white?
Keith Arnold : No, some.
Interviewer: Just a few.
Keith Arnold : I knew a mixture.
Interviewer: How was it as far as race growing up? It sounds like that there wasnt really much
of a big deal.
Keith Arnold : We didnt have any problems as children with that race issue. No, I had plenty of
white friends and plenty of black friends and different nationalities too, you know, friends. They
didnt believe in that stuff back in the days like they do know. At least in Buffalo they didnt at
that time. There was no race hatred and you know, people being down for the color of their skin
and stuff. We had a nice friendship.
Interviewer: So that was nothing that you ever had to deal with, really.
Keith Arnold : No, not then. Matter of fact I never dealt with racism until I got to Detroit.
Interviewer: Oh. Okay. So when you were growin up in New York, who did you, who did you live
with as a kid?
Keith Arnold : I lived with my mother and my grandmother. Well, when I was a baby, I lived
with my mother and father until I was about six years old. Then my mother and my father
separated. Then I lived with my mother and my grandmother. She raised me all the way, from then
on, you know.
Interviewer: Your mother and your grandmother? Okay.
Keith Arnold : For a minute I lived with my mother and my stepfather. She got married again.
And I think until I was around thirteen years old. And that was, that, you know, I went back to my
grandmothers.
Interviewer: After your mom got remarried?
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: You went back to stay with your grandmother?
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Why did you go back to stay with your grandmother?
Keith Arnold : Well, we didnt get along too good.
Interviewer: You and the stepfather?
Keith Arnold : Yeah. At first. And then we did but we didnt. It was just a little confusion because
he didnt have any children.
Interviewer: Ohso its a little different for him to adjust to having a kid.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: How did that, um, how did it make you feel going back-
Keith Arnold : I liked him. I didnt have no problems, actually, with him. We used to go fishing
together and hunting together. He showed me a whole lot of things. He worked for a airplane
company. I think it was Bell Aircraft. And he was kind of intelligent smart too. He wasnt an
engineer, but he was close to it.
Interviewer: So what was your mom and your grandma like growing up?
Keith Arnold : Oh, they were both as sweet as could be. My grandmother, she was a store owner.
She had a little grocery store and I used to go down and work for her, help her out. Stuff like that,
her and my grandfather. And ah, workin there for awhile. Make a little money. Go places, do
things. They were very nice. I had no problems. I was a mischievous little boy, but you know
Interviewer: Okay. So far what I got from you is that you were born in the early forties in Buffalo,
New York. You had mixed friends, mixed races. You didnt really have to worry about too much of
race issues back then. It was just all fun growing up with your friends and you lived with your
mom and your grandmother.
Keith Arnold : And my grandfather. Im sorry I didnt mention him.
Interviewer: Oh, and your grandfather too.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: What was he like?
Keith Arnold : Oh, he was a, he was an Indian. He was very, very quiet. He never said much, or
talked much, but if he did start talking he meant what he said.
Interviewer: So was he, would you say he was strict?
Keith Arnold : No, he wasnt strict because like I said he never did say much. But when he did
he meant what he said.
Interviewer: Well what do you mean by that? When you said, when he said something he meant
what he said?
Keith Arnold : I mean he would never tell you things to do or not to do too much, because hed
leave that up to my mother and my grandmother. But if he did say dont or do, he meant it. And
he was a nice person too.
Interviewer: Okay. SoWas your dadwas he in the likecause I heard you say that your parents
split up when you were six
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Was he around after that?
Keith Arnold : He was around but not often. Not like they ever lived together or anything, you
know. I lived with him for a little while too.
Interviewer: Okay, so you did stay with him when you were still in New York?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: So how long did you stay with him?
Keith Arnold : Most of the time be down like during the summer months when I was out of
school.
Interviewer: So you would visit for the summertime.
Yeah. Mmmhm.
Interviewer: So he was still pretty much a big part of your life while you were still a kid.
Yes. Mmmhm. Yep.
Interviewer: So was there anything else that you remember that stood out about your childhood
while you were growing up in New York? Anything major happen when you were there?
Keith Arnold : Not anything major that I can think of. I just had a fewyou know after I got a
little older, new jobs that I worked and things to, you know, get myself prepared for manhood.
Interviewer: So you did work while you while you lived in New York.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes!
Interviewer: Okay. So you say that like you worked a lot.
Keith Arnold : Well I worked at my grandmothers store. I worked at a place called Maysden
Brothers, that was a transportation company. I worked at a place called Atlas Plastics. And ahhh,
I worked at a garage that me and a friend of mine tried to build up later in life. He was another best
friend of mine that we worked on cars and stuff. And we did pretty decent. But um, we were so
young that things didnt work out too good for us because we didnt know the business aspects
and stuff like that. But we didyou know
Interviewer: So you had quite a few jobs while you were there.
Keith Arnold : Oh yeah. Yeah.
Interviewer: What was the purpose of you guys having so many different jobs?
Keith Arnold : Well all of them didnt, I did.
Interviewer: Oh. Well what was the purpose of you having so many different jobs?
Keith Arnold : Well, you know, you have a job and you get laid off or you find something better
and then you would switch. And then when you get into your own, trying to setup your own
business you leave the rest of it you know alone. Trying to setup some business for yourself. And
we were adventurous so we tried to setup this garage business. It worked out pretty good for a
while, but the business aspects werent too good cause we werent that mature enough. That mature
to take care of business the way it should have been taken care of. Thinking more about young
people stuff, you know.
Interviewer: So how old were you when you started working at your grandmas store?
Keith Arnold : Oh, I was about twelve.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : When I first started working there, you know. Yeah. I mostly helped them out at
that time. Just because Id be around them a lot.
Interviewer: Okay. Now was that something that was normal for kids to start working that young
back then?
Keith Arnold : MmmmIn a way of speaking, cause, it was not a poor place but everyone needed
to help if they wanted to do things for themselves. They needed to earn their own money and keep.
So most people had little part time jobs and little things they did to bring in a little bit of money so
they could go to shows and go skating and different, ahh you know things like that.
Interviewer: Okay. So you werent reallyyou were never required to have a job?
Keith Arnold : Oh no.
Interviewer: It was just by choice. Something you wanted to do. Okay. So sounds like you, you had
a pretty decent childhood. Is that correct?
Keith Arnold : Yes, pretty decent. Like to do it all over again if I could.
Interviewer: You would do it all over again?
Keith Arnold : Mmmmhm. It was wonderful.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: So far we have that you know, you had a pretty decent childhood growing up. You
had a lot of friends. You were active in sports. (agreement) You worked as a child, by choice.
Yes.
Interviewer: Did you contribute to any of the finances in your home through your jobs?
Keith Arnold : No I didnt.
Interviewer: Okay, so you didnt have to pay any bills or anything.
Keith Arnold : No.
Interviewer: Okay, so all of the income you made through your job was strictly your pocket money.
Keith Arnold : Yes. I might give something but it wasnt required of me.
Interviewer: Okay. Alright, so, would you pretty much say that that pretty much sums up your
childhood growing up in New York?
Keith Arnold : As far as my childhood I would say yes. By the time I got to my early teens, I
mean- late teens really, early twenties.
Interviewer: Late teens early twenties.
Keith Arnold : Yeah. You know I got married.
Interviewer: Okay, so tell me a little bit about that. How old were you when you got married?
Keith Arnold : Well, the first time I was 21.
Interviewer: 21.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Okay, so tell me a little bit about your marriage. How did you meet your first wife?
We were in school-
Interviewer: At school.
Keith Arnold : Uh huh. We met in school. We grew up a boyfriend and girlfriend going to school.
Interviewer: Like high school sweethearts.
Keith Arnold : Yes... Yes.
Interviewer: So you were 21 when you got married. So, would you say that this was the start of
your adult life?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: So when you got married you were still in New York?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: So how did the marriage go about. Did you propose to her?
Keith Arnold : Something like that. Yeah.
Interviewer: Something like that.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Did you have a ring?
Keith Arnold : Do I have one?
Interviewer: Did you have one?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay, so you did. You kind of asked her to marry you or...
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: Yeah. Okay, so what happened after that?
Keith Arnold : Well, we had three children.
Interviewer: Okay, so you had three kids with your first wife. How old were you when you had
your first kid?
Keith Arnold : I think I was.cant really remember.Like twenty.
Interviewer: Okay, so you had your baby before you got married?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. How was that? Having a kid. Your first kid.
Keith Arnold : It was rough.
Interviewer: It was rough?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Tell me a little bit about that. Why was it? Why was it rough?
Keith Arnold : Well you know. First time being a parent is kind of different. As a at the first we
werent living together or anything. It was kind of difficult. But once we got married and got
together it was pretty nice.
Interviewer: Okay, so, what would you say was difficult specifically about it? I heard you say that
you werent living together. Did that mean that you had the baby by yourself often?
Keith Arnold : No. It just, it was a difficult position because we werent together I guess. Being
kind of young is, it was an awkward position, you know.
Interviewer: Okay. But as far as aspects of parenthood, how was that, as far as aspects of
financially taking care of the child?
Keith Arnold : That was hard because at the time jobs werent very, very plentiful. But, you know,
this is jobs that would keep you going but they wouldnt really put you over the top because I
didnt have the college education or anything like that. (coughs) Excuse me.
Interviewer: So would you say that college education back then was very important?
Keith Arnold : Well, educations always been important to people, you know. Like I said, my
best friend, he went to college and he became very, very successful. He opened a business but he
had the knowledge to keep it together. Which we didnt because we didnt have that education and
smarts. But we were, what do you call- willing to try. Do anything to make it successful but it just
didnt work.
Interviewer: Okay. So. After your childhood, after say, your teen years you had a baby (agreement)
and then you got married, and then you had two more kids after you got married. (agreement) So
how was that after you were married? I heard you say that it was difficult because you werent
married. So when you got married, was it better?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. It helped because we were together and we could do things together. Take
care of the kids together. We didnt have to go to find her house to see her or her find me to see
me or stuff like that.
Interviewer: So having both parents in the same home made it easier to raise the kids-
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: -Than they would if it was just one parent in one home and the other parent in the
other home.
Keith Arnold : Right. That made a big difference. Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. Okay so.When did- Why did you migrate to Michigan? Why did you? When
did that spark in your head that you wanted to migrate to Michigan?
Keith Arnold : Well I had a cousin came from here, from Michigan to Buffalo. He asked me if I
wanted to, you know, help him drive back to Michigan. I told him I would help him. And when I
did, I kind of fell in love with the place. And job opportunities were very, very fluent there. You
could get a job almost anywhere back in the early sixties. And I told my family and everything,
and I applied for a job and I got it just like that. A matter of fact, I got two. So I just stayed. You
know.
Interviewer: Okay, so I hear you say that you fell in love with Michigan.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: What do you mean by that?
Keith Arnold : I mean the city Detroit was really booming. It was popular then. You know they
had all the car industries and ah, a lot of entertainment. And it was just a bigger city than Bufallo
was. You know itit was in Buffalo, because Buffalo was small. Detroit, at that time had like
maybe a million and a half people. It had a lot of people here. But, soon faded away butYeah, I
liked that. And then I got a job at Ford Motor Company and I worked there for 43 years. And uh,
had a great time.
Interviewer: Okay. So you said that you had a cousin that lived here (agreement) and he came to
visit you in Buffalo and asked you to help him drive back-
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: And right then is when you said that thats when you wanted to move to Michigan.
Keith Arnold : Once I got back here, yeah.
Interviewer: Once you got back to New York?
Keith Arnold : No, once I got to Michigan.
Interviewer: Once you got back here helping him drive?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. How didHow did that go as far as your family in New York? Like your kids
and your wife?
Keith Arnold : Well it first it was good and then, kind of went sour.
Interviewer: So did you leave them behind?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Can you tell me a little bit about that? After you dropped them off here, you
filled out job applications while you were here?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: And then you went back to New York after that?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay, can you tell me a little bit about that, like as far as your transition moving to,
from New York to here permanently?
Keith Arnold : Well after I filled out the applications I came back to Buffalo.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : I did. I got some offers. So I went back and filled into- and checked into em and
actually I got hired there so... I just stayed once I got hired. It was a very, very decent job. Good
job. And I stayed with my cousin. The cousin that brought, you know that wanted me to- He was
an older person, but I stayed with him for awhile until I got on my feet then, and then I, you know,
moved out of there
Interviewer: Okay. So, your cousin was pretty stable-
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: When he was living here. So he could help you out
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: -In that area.
Keith Arnold : He worked at Kelsey Hayes.
Interviewer: Okay. How long did you stay with him before you got on your feet?
Keith Arnold : Umm, I guess four months.
Interviewer: Four months. Okay, so the reason for you moving to Michigan is because of that one
time visiting.
Keith Arnold : Job opportunitiesyeah.
Interviewer: And job opportunities. So thats how you kind of got turned on to Michigan.
Keith Arnold : Right.
Interviewer: Before that, did you have any, any thoughts of moving here at all?
Keith Arnold : No.
Interviewer: Not at all?
Keith Arnold : Nope. I had been here before when I was a child, but I had never thought about
living here.
Interviewer: Okay. Tell me a little bit about your family and your migration to Michigan. How did
that go? Once you decided that this was where you wanted to be, how did that go over with the
family and how did it turn out? What was the journey for that?
Keith Arnold : It didnt turn out too good because we split up, and they stayed in Buffalo and I
stayed in Detroit. It didnt work out too well.
Interviewer: Why do you think it didnt work out too well?
Keith Arnold : Wellbeing young and stupid. I would sayto me.
Interviewer: You would say you were being young and stupid?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Why would you say you were being young and stupid?
Keith Arnold : Well, I was doing things I shouldnt have been doing.
Interviewer: Do you think that moving to Michigan was stupid?
Keith Arnold : No, that was a great move.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : No. I dont think that was stupid.
Interviewer: So you still to this day think that you made the right choice by moving to Michigan.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. Oh yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Now before you moved to Michigan, was there anywhere else that you
considered moving to in the U.S. or anywhere?
Keith Arnold : No.
Interviewer: No. So once you- so you went straight from Buffalo to Detroit and there was never
anywhere else that you-
Keith Arnold : That I had in my mind, no.
Interviewer: Okay. Had your mind made up after that. Okay.
Keith Arnold : Nope. Being an only child I didnt have many options like brothers and sisters
living in different places or a lot of family living in different places I could visit and get to, you
know, meet people and run around or wherever.
Interviewer: So was Michigan the only place, the only other place besides New York that you had
family?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : That I knew of, you know. I might have had family in the south but I didnt know
them.
Interviewer: Alright. So, so far we got that you were born in the early forties. You had a great
childhood. You know your parents were loving, growing up, your mom and your grandmother and
even though your mom and dad split up, he was still a part of your life.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Once you got married, you got married and had children and your cousin came and
asked you to drive back to Michigan with him, and you accepted and you fell in love with Detroit
city.(agreement) You got a job and you stayed here, and youve been here ever since.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. After your moving to Michigan and you split up with your wife, what happened
after that? What was the next thing in your life?
Keith Arnold : Mmmmthen I found somebody else. Fell in love with them and got marri-
remarried.
Interviewer: Okay, so then you got a second wife.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. So tell me a little bit about that. How did you guys meet?
Keith Arnold : A friend of mine introduced us, and then we took off from there.
Interviewer: Okay, so shes from, she was from Michigan too?
Keith Arnold : She was from Alabama but she lived in Michigan. Born in Alabama, let me put it
that way.
Interviewer: Okay, so you guys had a mutual friend.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. So what happened after you met your second wife?
Keith Arnold : Nothing, we just did pretty good. Hung in there together. Raised another family.
Interviewer: So you had more children?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: So how did that go for you? Were you guys married first this time?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay, so how did that go? Before you were saying that it was a little difficult with
your first child because you werent married to your childs mother?
Keith Arnold : And we didnt live together, so
Interviewer: And you didnt live together. How was it the second time around when you were living
together?
Keith Arnold : Oh yeah, it was a lot different. It wasreally wonderful to me.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: So how was it different as far as this time around? What would you say was different?
Keith Arnold : Well, I had a decent job. We had a home of our own. Well not of our own, but,
we you know rented a home of our own. Different things. Its just like ordinary house and wife.
Housewife and a husband working, taking care of family. Stuff like that.
Interviewer: Okay. So the second time around would you-you said it was different because you
had a stable job. Whereas before you didnt have a stable job. You were kind of-
Keith Arnold : True.
Interviewer: Going from job to job.
Keith Arnold : True.
Interviewer: Okay. And you guys had a home. You were all in one home this time around. Okay.
So were, your childrenwith your second wife, were they all born in Michigan?
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: How many children did you guys have?
Keith Arnold : Five.
Interviewer: Had five kids. Okay. So did you- would you say that you liked parenthood?
Keith Arnold : Yes. Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Alright. So why dont you tell me a little bit about your line of work.
Keith Arnold : Well, when I first started- I was a metal finisher. That was my classification. And
at the time I think I was making two dollars, two dollars and sixty-eight cents a hour, and at that
time, which was in 1965, that was good money.
Interviewer: Two dollars and sixty-five cents was good money back then?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm. Yes.Two dollars and sixty- eight cents.
Interviewer: Two dollars and sixty-eight cents an hour.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm. I had a classification that I never even did. But that was because of my
background in the automotive industry when I was in Buffalo working on cars. And then later on,
I got into skilled trades and then stayed in skilled trades for about thirty, thirty-one or thirty-three
years until I retired.
Interviewer: Okay. So, when you moved to Michigan you got this job here at the motor company
and youve been here ever since.
Keith Arnold : Yes I was. Until I retired. Yes.
Interviewer: Until you retired.
Keith Arnold : I retired in 2008.
Interviewer: Okay. So two dollars and sixty-eight cents an hour. That was. Was that more than
minimum wage back then?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: That was way more than minimum wage.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. That was a very good salary back then.
Interviewer: Do remember what the minimum wage was back then?
Keith Arnold : Mmmmm.I dont remember, but I know it had to be probably less than a dollar.
Interviewer: Okay. So you guys were definitely living above the poverty line would you say?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. Yes. It paid really, really well as far as I was concerned.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Matter of fact, all through the years I worked there they paid very, very well.
Especially skilled trades. They made real good money.
Interviewer: And that was your position after the metal-
Keith Arnold : Finishing, yeah,
Interviewer: -metal finishing.
Keith Arnold : Mmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. And youve been in the skilled trades ever since you left the metal finishing?
Keith Arnold : Right.
Interviewer: Okay. So was that a job that you would say you enjoyed working for all those years?
Keith Arnold : Yes I did. I enjoyed it very, very much.
Interviewer: What did you like about it?
Keith Arnold : It was challenging. It wasone thing I worked on, and I worked on the midnight
shift most of the time and that was kind of weird because you could- I hate to say it now, but I
could get naps and stuff. Sneak off at times and do my own thing. I- that was, rarely challenging
times. Had to get machines and stuff ready for the morning runs, and after that, once you got it
ready you were on your own in a sense of speaking. Foreman didnt bother you as long as the job
was ready to start up in the morning. Mmmhm, its a lot of fun.
Interviewer: So how was- I know you, I heard you say you worked midnight. How was that, how
did that go as far as raising your family? Did that conflict in any way?
Keith Arnold : Not really. Because my wife didnt work. And it worked out pretty well.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Afterwards, I- at first I didnt like it but then I started loving it. I didnt want to go
to no other shift. (laughs)
Interviewer: You didnt like to work midnight at first?
Keith Arnold : No. Not at first I didnt.
Interviewer: Why not?
Keith Arnold : Just the late hours. I was a night person, like I liked to sleep at night, you know.
Kind of hard to get adjusted to, but once I got adjusted to it, I didnt want to do no other shift.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Loved it. Mmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. So you ended up lovin your shift and you ended up loving your job.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Would you say thats what kept you here, in Michigan?
Keith Arnold : Probably. A lot of it. And my wife and children. Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Was there ever a point in time where you, where you thought about moving back to
New York?
Keith Arnold : No.
Interviewer: So once you were here you were-
Keith Arnold : Here.
Interviewer: You were content.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. Okay. So, so far, just to recap everything that weve talked about. We have that
you were born in Buffalo, New York, in the early forties. You had a lot of friends, but you had a
lot of different friends of different races. Their, race was not an issue-
Keith Arnold : No.
Interviewer: Growing up in Buffalo, New York.
Keith Arnold : Nah.
Interviewer: Did you know of any times where it was an issue? I mean, as a kid, did you hear about
other places where it was an issue?
Keith Arnold : You mean other cities?
Interviewer: Yeah or-
Keith Arnold : Oh, I heard about other cities, yeah but we didnt have that problem. Well, I didnt
have that problem there.
Interviewer: So you did know of it, but you just never had to deal with it.
Keith Arnold : I never had to deal with it.
39.36
Interviewer: Okay. And um, so you had different friends you know and you were into sports and
activities growing up. You pretty much had a good childhood, you said. Your parents split when
you were really young. You were six years old, but they were both still a part of your life.
(agreement) Along with your grandmother and your grandfather that you mentioned. Once you,
you got married when you were 21 and you had kids. Your cousin came to Michigan. I mean, your
cousin came to New York, Im sorry, to visit, and asked you to help him drive back to Michigan.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: How long was the drive, from New York to Michigan, do you know?
Keith Arnold : About four and a half, five hours.
Interviewer: So, was that long to you?
Keith Arnold : No, because I was young and full of fun.
Interviewer: Okay. Is it-So would you say it was like a road trip? Or-
Keith Arnold : UmmmYeah, thats what it was, a road trip.
Interviewer: Okay. So it was a road trip to you.
Keith Arnold : He was an older person and I guess he didnt like driving that much.
Interviewer: Okay. Well, cause I heard you say it was fun, it was kind of fun.
Keith Arnold : To me.
Interviewer: To you.
Keith Arnold : Mmhmm.
Interviewer: Okay. So once you got back to Detroit, Michigan with your cousin, you wanted to
stay. You liked the city. How did you come to like the city? What, what sparked your attention to
the city. I know you said that you liked, um, you liked the people. You liked that it had a lot of
people and things like that, but how did you even come about finding out about the city?
Keith Arnold : Well they took me, my cousin took me around different places and to see all
different people in the family. And everybody that I met or seen was trying to take me somewhere
else, you know,
Interviewer: Mmmhm.
Keith Arnold : to show me what the city was about. They all loved it too. I got to go to a lot of
places. Like football games, and stadium, and baseballs games. We didnt have those things in
Buffalo. Stadium, we had a stadium but no pro teams and stuff like that. They had hockey team,
baseball team, football teams, basketball teams, everything in Detroit that you could participate in.
They didnt have those things in Buffalo. Very few. And it was fun.
Interviewer: So they didnt have any pro sports in Buffalo?
Keith Arnold : They didnt have professional. They had semi-pro. Semi-professional.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : And
Interviewer: So, so your cousin showed you around when you came to visit. How long were you
here when you visited for the first time?
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm. Say maybe a month or so.
Interviewer: So he asked you to drive him, help him drive back and you end up staying for a month.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. And then once you got here he introduced you to people and then those people
wanted to take you different places as well, to show you around.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: And after that you just kind ofwas that when you made up your mind or was it when
you got the job?
Keith Arnold : No. When I got the job applications. When they called me for those, thats when
I kind of like made up my mind. When I found out how much I would be making and stuff I go,
Wow. You need to go here. (laughs)
Interviewer: Alright. So then after you got your job is when you met your second wife.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: And you started having more kids. And your life, you said it was better.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: In a way that you were stable financially.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: You had your consistent job, and you were making more than, you know, minimum
wage.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: You were making pretty decent money.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: And you were able to live in one household with your kids. Whereas before you were
kind of in a different household at first and it was little difficult.
Keith Arnold : Yeah.
Interviewer: So after you know, your kids. Can you tell me a little bit about your life after your
kids. Like how it was with them growing up. Was there anything that was a challenge for you as
far as them growing up?
Keith Arnold : Nothing that I can really put my finger on. They were all pretty good kids. They
all went to- all of them finished high school and one I think went to college. Excuse me. No, they
were no trouble, no problems. I never had any problems with them. They never in jail or in trouble
or, stuff like that, you know. They never ended up getting, wellthey all real good kids. Still are.
Well theyre not kids now, but.
Interviewer: Theyre grown up.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. And then as far as your line of work
Keith Arnold : Mmmm
Interviewer: You loved your job.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: Is what you said.
Keith Arnold : I loved doing that stuff.
Interviewer: You started off doing one thing and then you ended up kind a being promoted, would
you say?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: So when you moved from the metal-
Keith Arnold : Metal finishing to skilled trades.
Interviewer: Metal finishing to the-
Keith Arnold : Skilled trades.
Interviewer: Did you get an increase like of pay?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes.
Interviewer: Okay.
Keith Arnold : Yes.
Interviewer: Was it a significant increase you were paid?
Keith Arnold : Yes. I think other than tool and die and electricians we were the highest paid in
the job classification that I had. I was awhat do you callnot a fixture repair, but a welder
fixture repair. We fixed welder machines to ah, you know the ones that produce the cars. Like a
welder is a different thing. You know a welder uses. We would, we would fix machines and they
called us welder fixture repair people. And we made more money than just about any classification
out there except for electricians and tool and die. So we were doing real good. And we did a lot of
overtime, if you wanted it, you know. Mmmhm.Yep.
Interviewer: Okay. Was there anything else that you know that you wanted to elaborate on, or
anything else that you
Keith Arnold : Well I say when I got about sixty-five I got ill. My kidneys went out and I had to
get on dialysis and I been on dialysis ever since. And um, thats something I didnt want, I didnt
like, but it kept me living so I had to do it.
Interviewer: So how many years was that? I know you said you got on it when you were sixty-five.
How many years have you been on it now?
Keith Arnold : About four. Close to four.
Interviewer: About four. Almost four years. How is that for you? I know you said something that
you didnt like but it kept you living.
Keith Arnold : Yeah, it was terrible, truthfully. I mean I messed up I think. I had hypertension.
Hypertension is what caused kidney failure. I really didnt get the hypertension under control like
I should have. Thats what made my kidneys go out.
Interviewer: Okay. So is it something that you would say is a struggle for you?
Keith Arnold : At times. Cause once youre on that machine and you get off, it takes a lot out of
you. I can just barely make it home sometimes. But once I get two or three hours of rest, I feel
completely different and better.
Interviewer: Okay. So, I know you said, I asked you before. I asked you if there was anything else
that you would, that you would like to talk about or elaborate on and you brought up dialysis.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Would you say that thats something that s a major part of your life-
Keith Arnold : -It is now.
Interviewer: Like it having a big effect on you?
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. Its a big part of my life now. Like I said. I cant do without it and I hate
it. But its something I have to do to survive.
Interviewer: Is there anything that it keeps you from doing physically?
Keith Arnold : Oh lots of things. Lots of things. Cause, only one arm. I only use one arm. You
know, it all depends on which arm. If youre right hand or left hand it might take things from you
that you normally do with your right hand. If they put the graft or the other thing in your arm. In
that arm. Then you cant use it because you can only lift things up to five pounds, and they want
you to keep it free most of the time. You understand. Yeah, its difficult. But I guess you become
accustomed to it after a few years. Just know what you gotta do to keep going.
Interviewer: Now I heard you say earlier that you didnt do what you were supposed to keep your
hypertension in control.
Keith Arnold : Right.
Interviewer: What could you say that you could have done differently?
Keith Arnold : I could- went to more doctors and followed their advice and took my medication
like I was supposed to. And that I didnt do and then they did blow out. So that was my fault. I
cant blame it on them. But if I had it to do all over again I know I would change my ways and I
would take that medicine and do the right thing and keep it down. Because its no joke when you
aint got no kidneys. It aint no fun. No fun whatsoever.
Interviewer: So this is. Thatso the whole dialysis and everything has definitely had an effect on
your life recently.
Keith Arnold : Oh yes. Oh yes. Wasnt for the people around me, I dont know how Id make it
because Id be so weak and drained and tired when I get off of the machines I feel terrible. But,
like I said in a few hours of resting, sometimes my body comes back together and I feel kind of
decent.
Interviewer: Now you said if it wasnt for the people around you
Keith Arnold : Yeah, like my kids and my wife and my grandkids.
Interviewer: Now what do they do to to to help you?
Keith Arnold : Mmmm. All sort of different things. They take me to the hospitals sometimes.
They used to come wh- well they used to be around all the time. They could help with the cooking
and the, this and that, and the cleaning up for me and stuff. Theyll help me in many, many, many
different ways.
Interviewer: Cause its um, you said its a little more difficult for you to do things with your arm
now.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: You cant lift anything over five pounds.
Keith Arnold : With that one arm, yes.
Interviewer: With the one arm.
Keith Arnold : Mmmhm.
Interviewer: Okay. So, I just did a summary of you know, youre your moving from Buffalo, New
York to migrating to Michigan and your new family. Would you say that the summary was pretty
much on point from what you described?
Keith Arnold : Yes. Oh yes.
Interviewer: Okay. So. I know you said your dialysis. Was there anything else that you would like
to elaborate on before we wrap things up?
Keith Arnold : I dont think I can think of anything.
Interviewer: Thats pretty much it. Okay, well I want to thank you for your interview.
Keith Arnold : Thank you.
Interviewer: And umwere going to go ahead and wrap up now. Thank you.
Keith Arnold : Thank you.