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Holloway, Mary (audio interview #3 of 3)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This third interview with Holloway might actually be described as a joint interview with her and her 72 year old activist daughter, Laura C. Brooks. The audio quality of this interview is better than the first two interviews, despite some telephone interruptions. 3/12/1974
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- 2021-02-23
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- SUBJECT BIO - Mary "Mother" Holloway, like many other Black women, focused her social reform activities in the church. She held leadership positions in the Women's Missionary Socety both before and after her move to Los Angeles in 1947. In Los Angeles, she worked with other women of various denominations to institute social programs for young women. Some of her involvement in NAACP, Church Women United and NCWN is elaborated by her daughter. TOPICS - women's organizations; Women in Community Service, Inc;; National Council of Colored Women; Job Force for Girls; and NAACP;NCNW; NAACP; Eastern Star; Holloway's education on slavery and black history from mother; attitudes towards socialization and impact of slavery on white and black cultures; women's roles in racial uplift movement; and racial discrimination;
- *** File: refmholloway4.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-7:00)... <This interview begins with a brief introduction>. Holloway and her daughter, Laura C. Brooks, discuss Women in Community Service, Inc., which is a coalition of six organizations: Church Women United, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), National Council of Catholic Women, National Council of Jewish Women, the American G.I. Forum Auxiliary, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. Brooks reads a brochure explaining the mission of these organizations. She also discusses Job Force for Girls, a program developed by NCNW to assist women who drop out of school and are unable to continue their education. Brooks explains that facilities, such as Clark House and the YWCA also provide temporary housing needs for women who participate in the program, which is entirely government funded. (7:00-12:13)... Brooks discusses the NCNW's activities and its impacts on young women. In addition to introducing young women to church and social activities, the NCNW raises funds and provides services to help women after they leave Job Force for Girls. She describes the structure of a coalition made up of Jewish, Catholic, and Negro Councils and Church Women United which sponsor programs together. Brooks and Holloway describe the role of the NAACP in bringing about integration and in defending minority rights. (12:13-19:55)... Holloway discusses her involvement with the NAACP. She describes an incident in Oklahoma regarding a lynching and how the president of the NAACP got involved in mediating the recovery and burial of the boy's body. Brooks goes on to explain the purpose and activities of the NAACP. While the NAACP created a job force for men, they neglected women's needs. The NCNW works with the other organizations within Women in Community Service, Inc. to provide services for women and address women's rights. (19:55-22:37)... Note: there is a telephone interruption in this segment. The NCNW was formed in 1935; however, neither Holloway nor Brooks were members of the organization at that time. Brooks discusses NCNW's name, explaining that changing the name would be denying her Black heritage. She discusses the influence of Mary McLeod Bethune and her standing as a strong female figure in Black history. (22:37-29:22)... Brooks describes her mother as a "walking encyclopedia" and how her knowledge was always readily available for her children. She digresses regarding the NCNW, reiterating that it is not a club, but a coalition made up of twenty-six different organizations. She describes the structure of organization and how it is managed on both local and national level. In addition to sending funds to the national office, the NCNW raises funds for its internal bank, which are used to help people in need within the community, sponsor scholarships, etc. She describes the NCNW's involvement in funding a national monument of Bethune in Washington, D.C. Brooks believes that this is an important milestone for Blacks because there are very few "Negro" heroes discussed in school textbooks. The NCNW is working on efforts to get textbooks to print the contributions of Bethune. end of tape *** File: refmholloway5.mp3 (0:00-5:01)... The tape begins abruptly with a discussion of the NCNW. Brooks joined the NCNW in the 1950s. Holloway, on the other hand, worked with her church for fifteen years before getting involved in community activities and then joined the NCNW at that time. Brooks discusses the impact of the NCNW on her life. Holloway digresses regarding meeting Bethune. (5:01-9:08)... Note: there is a telephone interruption in this segment . Holloway discusses her activities with the Eastern Stars, explaining that it was a woman's division within a male Mason lodge. A woman could only become a member if she entered the organization through a male relative. The organization was open to all people and was not restricted to Blacks. She recalls that there was a youth group and an advanced group, which worked for the uplift of the "colored woman." Brooks explains that it was necessary for women to be at the forefront in fighting for rights because Black men risked lynching if they spoke out. (9:08-17:28)... Holloway discusses the dates of her three marriages and the names of her husbands. She explains that her marriages all ended because of the deaths of her husbands. She digresses regarding her mother's influence on her own ideas about Black history and slavery. She relates a story regarding the dynamic that existed during slavery between the White child and the Black mammy. Brooks notes that "whatever we are, we are that because of," in relation to the impact of White culture on Black socialization. She describes an encounter with a White man in the 1940s, in which he equated her intelligence with her White blood. Though prejudice exists, she believes it is important for Negroes to be better than average so that they stand out. (17:28-20:10)... Holloway discusses her experiences sightseeing in the Los Angeles area. She describes the contrasts between the lights in Watts and the lights in Hollywood. She visited Sunset Strip and observed the hippies and the prostitutes, arguing that many of these people are from wealthy families, but left home because they resented their parents for giving them money instead of love. end of tape
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0845900353823733-refmholloway4.mp3 | 2023-10-19 | Public | Download |
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7803458144753914-refmholloway5.mp3 | 2023-10-19 | Public | Download |