EDITH AND JESSE KANE OWNED JESSE ' S BAR AND GRILL IN NEW ALBANY , WHICH IS OPEN FOR ABOUT THREE DECADES .
EDITH ’ S HANDS “ SERVED A LOT OF FOOD ” DURING THE RESTAURANT YEARS WHICH ENDED IN 1992 . decided to rent the space to other tenants , and while Jesse ’ s Bar and Grill may just be a memory , its legacy is important .
“ Her and my grandfather are intricate parts of this community ,” said Staci Lewis , The Kanes ’ granddaughter .
She offered her comments with praise for her grandparents , and concern for Black-owned businesses in Southern Indiana .
“ Black entrepreneurship is pretty stagnant here . You don ’ t get very many Edith Kanes and Jesse Kanes to this day .”
It ’ s a sentiment shared by her Aunt Virginia .
She remembers the racism that continued after segregation ’ s legal end . She remembers when Black people could go into New Albany and Louisville restaurants and order food , but couldn ’ t sit down inside the establishment to eat .
Virginia remembers the downtown New Albany shops , which were regional draws in the 1960s and 1970s , where Black people weren ’ t allowed to try on clothing .
“ Our parents didn ’ t teach us to be prejudice . When I got older , I could see the difference in how we were treated ... children segregated at tables at school . That ’ s when I really knew about racism , because we weren ’ t taught it in our house ,” Virginia said .
Like her parents , Virginia made a difference . She helped start the first Black student union at New Albany High School . The group pushed for equal educational access . For example , Virginia said Black students weren ’ t receiving instruction on how to prepare for college at the time .
“ When we became aware that something wasn ’ t right , that ’ s when we started the Black student union ,” Virginia said .
While progress has been made , Virginia is frustrated about where Southern Indiana stands . There aren ’ t enough Black educators , elected officials and entrepreneurs , she said .
“ If kids don ’ t see someone that looks like them , more than likely they ’ re going to say ‘ I can ’ t be a teacher . I can ’ t be a principal . I can ’ t be a mayor ’,” Virginia said .
Virginia had examples of what success looked like — her parents . Despite the obstacles they faced , Edith focuses on the good times .
“ I can ’ t complain about when I had the business . I had people from everywhere ... Jeff , Louisville ,” she said .
And at age 96 , Edith knows what life is all about .
“ Just treat people right ,” she said .
2022 Diversity Magazine 19