Alexander Archer was born in North Carolina 60 years ago. He had one brother and one sister, bot now deceased, and he has a daughter and grandchildren. By age seven, he was plowing with a mule to help his sharecropper parents who grew cotton, corn, peanuts and tobacco.
He said his grandmother was one of his greatest influences. “My grandmother Lizzie Archer was my heart. She took care of me and I got a lot of knowledge from here. God bless her – she IS in heaven”.
How did you become homeless?
Nine months ago, I worked for the Clark Construction Company. Now I am homeless.
Where do you live now?
I live at the Gospel Rescue Mission. I’ve gone to church every night for the last nine months, and Sunday too. Pastor Lewis looks out for me and he is a very nice man. We have different ministers every night talking about the Word of God.
What is the hardest think about being homeless?
Not having my own bathroom and my own shower. I don’t like a three-minute shower – I like 20 minutes in the bathtub!
What is your greatest accomplishment while homeless?
Being at 18th and K streets, where I sell Street Sense, and seeing the people who are nice and treat me like I am somebody. I appreciate the people who treat me like I am somebody, because I may be homeless, but I am not nobody – I am somebody! I have feeling, and I really do care.
What advice would you give to other people who are homeless?
Don’t give up. Don’t EVER give up. My grandmother taught me that, and I will never give up, no matter what. And believe in God – He is the ruler of the universe.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In a room of my own somewhere, where I can take my bath in my own tub. I want to sit back in the tub and relax and read Street Sense.
What would you like to say to the people who buy Street Sense from you?
I would like to say thanks and God bless. Every morning that you walk by and say, “good morning, God bless you,” that brightens my day. People are very good to me on that corner at 18th and K. I want to thank all of the people who come through there, the ones who buy and the ones who don’t buy. Here are a few special people I would like to thank by name: First and foremost, Judy Guy; also, Ruth Childers Scott, Matthew F. Famiglietti, Esq., Don Robinson, and Laura Thompson Osuri. And also, Marcia Howard, who gave me $40 with a note saying “Thank you for being such a blessing every morning” – I can’t say anything but thank you! And God bless you! And I’ll see you tomorrow! I have great respect for my customers, and I love my customers. God bless you; I love you all!
What is your favorite food?
Potato salad, collard greens, cornbread, catfish short ribs. And you can get me some pig’s feet, too!
