Interview with Joaquin (Jack) Gomes Gomes, Joaquin interviewee Utsey, Jasmine interviewer mixed material 2010-10-15 eng Oral history interview with Joaquin (Jack) Gomes about life in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, RI. Jack Gomes was born in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island on December 16, 1923. He is a first generation born American to Cape Verdean parents, and the second oldest of eleven siblings. His parents immigrated to Fox Point from the Cape Verdean Island of Saint Nicholas in 1915 (his father) and in 1920 (his mother). As Jack recalls, they sailed into Fox Point on two mast schooners, and met for the first time while living in Fox Point. During the course of his residency in Fox Point, Jack lived on nearly ten different streets between the years of 1923 to 1939 and 1950 into the late 1970s. Jacks father, Frank Gomes, was a musician skilled in the Cape Verdean musical style. At the age of eleven Jack joined his fathers band as a guitarist. Although he never learned to read music, Jack learned to play guitar by ear. As Jack grew older, he and his brothers formed their own group, The Brothers Band, and began to perform Cape Verdean, American and Latin songs at venues around Fox Point and throughout New England. During his 11th grade year in 1941, Jack dropped out of Hope High School. His decision was influenced by the need to help provide monetary support for his family. Soon after leaving high school, Jack was drafted into the U.S. Navy where he served in from 1943 to 1945. Once back in Fox Point, Jack details that many of the jobs available to Cape Verdeans were positions as factory workers or on the waterfront. During his life, Jack held several jobs which included working for the Conservation Corps, working in a jewelry factory, and in a paint shop. His longest held job was his 40-plus years of work as a Longshoreman. In addition to serving as a shop steward, Jack also served as President of the Longshoreman's Union, Local 1329 for eight years. He also served as a Commissioner for the State Humanities Council. Gomes, Joaquin The Fox Point Project 48 http://dl.lib.brown.edu/foxpoint oral histories (literary works)