Kaitlyn Greenidge, Donald Polite

Description

Longtime Brooklyn resident. Donald Polite was born in Brooklyn, NY. He attended public school and high school in the borough, where he graduated at an early age because he was on the honor roll. At 17, he entered Brooklyn Community College for Culinary Arts, where he trained as a chef. He also trained as a cosmetologist and television production, eventually graduating from a college of engineering. Donald’s father was trained as a draftsman for the United States Government during WWII. He was not drafted, because Donald was one of 10 children: 6 boys and 4 girls. At 17, he also married his wife, to whom he was wed for 55 years. She was from Georgia, and was ten years older than Donald. He met her while working for the General Electric Company: she was a radar inspector at the company. In this interview, Donald reminisces about their marriage, and his community’s response to infidelity. In 1966, Donald experienced a religious conversion, which he details in this interview. He continues to work with the church and created rehabilitation and youth programs for his congregation. Donald also trained as a cosmetologist, and worked for a beauty supply company, selling makeup at women’s house parties. Donald worked in entertainment and fashion as a young man. He started working as a cosmetologist through working in the costume and makeup departments in the theater. He also began working for a caterer, who offered to pay his tuition to culinary school. Donald reports that he was...

Record Contributed By

Weeksville Heritage Center