Martha Payne Darden

Dublin Core

Title

Martha Payne Darden

Description

Martha Payne Darden discusses how she and her six siblings were born and raised in a segregated neighborhood south of Texas Avenue in Texas City. Darden talks about her childhood, her big family, and her education attending Booker T. Washington School. A beautician for 36 years, Darden talks about her experiences with Franklin Beauty College and winning many trophies for hair styling and hair fashion from competitions. Darden also talks about her experience with Hurricane Carla and the aftermath felt by the city. In addition, she tells of her experiences as a young girl during and after the 1947 Texas City Disaster and the anxiety and fear she felt every time the “whistle blew” from one of the industrial plants. Darden is the cousin to famed blues singer Charles Brown, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. She shares her happy experiences with him from the early days.

Date

2022-04-29

Format

video

Identifier

2022OH_AAE004

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Interviewer

Theresa Mayfield

Interviewee

Martha Payne Darden

Files

Darden._square.jpg


Citation

“Martha Payne Darden,” The Oral History Archive at Moore Memorial Public Library, accessed December 5, 2023, https://texascitylibrary-oralhistory.org/items/show/41.