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Interviewees: Maxine Agee and Kim McClain

Interviewer: Steven Payne

Transcription by the Bronx Historical Society

Summary By: Sarah Neiman

June 22, 2022

Disciplines

African American Studies | Public History

Abstract

Kim McClain and Maxine Agee, the second and third presidents of the Bronx chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc, both have their own experiences with Jack and Jill of America Inc. that is indicative of a vibrant sense of community created by the women alongside those around them. Kim McClain spent a lot of time on her own or with her siblings growing up as she had busy, hardworking parents – her father was the first black firefighter in Queens, New York, with a bold personality and an eclectic music taste ranging from Johnny Cash to Nat King Cole. Her mother worked as an accountant and was putting in long hours at the office - leaving McClain and her siblings lots of time to ride her bike around the suburban neighborhood they grew up in. Although her parents were busy, McClain was always surrounded by a supportive community, and many people knew who she was because she was the daughter of her father, who was viewed as a neighborhood hero. Her father unfortunately passed away of a heart attack when she was in her late 20s, leading her to taking care of her mother, getting a degree, getting married, and moving to the Bronx in the Grand Concourse area.

Maxine Agee was born in North Carolina where her father and mother met. Eventually, they moved to the Bronx, where her father was a taxicab driver and her mother was a crossing guard. Although the Bronx was a stark contrast to the vastness of the South, Agee still felt a strong sense of community in her neighborhood despite the presence of gangs in her area. She spent lots of time in church as a child, and met most of her friends from singing gospel in the church choir. Like McClain, Agee’s father also passed away right before her high school graduation ceremony while doing his job. This was devastating, but she ended up working hard in college and marrying Tommy Agee, the New York Mets player, right after college. They ended up having a daughter who became a successful producer. Her husband ended up passing away from a heart attack later on, leaving her as a single mother with her daughter.

Both Agee and McClain got involved with Jack and Jill of America Inc. through Cheryl Oliver approaching them in the city and handing them her business card on separate occasions. Both women were drawn to become a part of the organization because they had children and believed that by working with Jack and Jill they and their children would be able to have access to opportunities that they would not have had otherwise. The women stayed in the company for years - serving in various roles and helping children gain access to new ways of education and familial support. Through Jack and Jill of America Inc, both Agee and McClain created a successful community in the Bronx for their children and those around them to flourish and succeed in.

Link to Video Recording: https://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/baahp/id/62/rec/2

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