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"Mein Vater arbeitete als Näher bei der Northeast Shoe Company. Als die Fabrik geschlossen wurde, lebten wir von Sozialhilfe. In Main bedeutete das ein unglaubliches Stigma. Obwohl er Alkoholiker war, hat mein Vater sein Leben einigermaßen im Griff gehabt. Und er hat mich nie wirklich verletzt. Er hat die Familie zwar vernachlässigt, war aber nicht gewalttätig. Vielleicht ein bisschen, wenn er völlig dicht war. Ich habe ihm vergeben."
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Rollins was also walking the line between art and religion. Raised by his Revivalist great grandmother during the summers, Rollins recalls: "She had no running water, we’d go to Revival Tent meetings and heal in rural Burnham, Maine. Daddy was hard drinking, bowling alley and Mom believed in God. In Maine, the only time you had art was Friday afternoons at Church." Even now, the first place I found the artist was at Harlem’s Baptist Memorial Church. When I called the receptionist responded: "Praise be the Lord, can I help you?" In Rollins’ case, his interest in art provided a way out of a difficult family life. "Daddy was a hand sewer for the Northeast Shoe Company. When the shop closed, we were on welfare. In Maine, the stigma is unbelievable. Daddy was an alcoholic, he was relatively functional, he never hurt me that bad. He was neglectful, but not violent. A little bit; he was out of it. I’ve forgiven him."
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