On a January evening in Harlem, the long, narrow auditorium of the Studio Museum had nearly filled for itsBooks and Authors Event featuring Kellie Jones in conversation with Hettie Jones.
This was the product of what happened after Jones’ memoir left off. She was a passionate mother who raised her daughters on money she scraped together with editing, writing, and teaching jobs. “There were periods of time when I had no money at all,” she said. The children blossomed under the wings of dynamic artist neighbors and their mother’s advice, “Go to school or end up in the massage parlor.”
Both daughters went to Yale University. Lisa Jones wrote for the Village Voice, penned plays, and co-wrote three books with director Spike Lee. Kellie Jones earned a Ph.D., organized art shows from South America to South Africa, and wrote Eye-Minded, Living and Writing Contemporary Art.
Hettie Jones, Amiri Baraka, and Lisa Jones each contributed to Eye-Minded. The mother and the sister were at the Harlem event celebrating the book. The father, whom Hettie Jones has not seen in years, was not.
“I don’t bother to talk about him,” Hettie Jones said, “and he doesn’t bother to talk about me.”
Hettie Jones celebrates her book of poetry Doing 70 with daughter Kellie Jones. Photo by Guthrie Ramsey
She and her elder daughter sat on the stage next to a pair of microphones and listened to the introductions.
When it was Kellie’s turn to speak, she looked at her mother. “The first editor of my book,” she said. “I really want to thank my mom for doing this. She’s a great writer, a great editor, always encouraging, just always a great role model.”
Jones fixed her eyes on Kellie. Her head tilted back, hand cupping her chin. Hettie Jones smiled.