Smokey Robinson sat down with DJ Vlad for an interview earlier in 2023 to discuss his legendary career (per YouTube). But the conversation took some interesting turns when Robinson began to talk about his family. The "Tears of a Clown" singer would give grim details about an incident with his father that would paint a picture of how racial injustices in the elder Robinson's era forced him to leave his home when he was only 12 years old.
Born in 1896, William Robinson, Sr. had worked delivering papers in Selma, Alabama since he was 10. The meager earnings he made each week were often taken by a kid that was five years older than he. Robinson's dad was Black, and his older bully was a white teen. Complaining to any authorities in early 20th century Alabama seemed pretty futile. So the young kid just took it, continuing to work while knowing that he stood a good chance of losing his money to this older kid at any given moment.
Robinson's father was the youngest child in the family. Robinson mentions that his father had considered telling his older brothers about his problem, but one legitimate fear stopped him. He was certain that if he involved his brothers that they would do something to stop the bully and thief from stealing his money, but that their actions would come with some serious consequences. Young Black men accosting a white kid could have led to a mob of white people storming the Robinson's home and beating or killing members of his family. So he went a different route.
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