Betty Brown-Chappell and Gail Patterson-Gladney
Recorded
July 14, 2023
Archived
July 14, 2023
41:33 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby022884
Description
Sisters Betty Brown-Chappell (76) and Gail Patterson-Gladney (74) trade memories from growing up on a farm near Bangor, Michigan with six other siblings. They reflect on what it was like for their family to navigate being one of the only African American families in the area. They also talk about Gail's roles as the first African American woman on both the South Haven City Council and the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners.Subject Log / Time Code
Gail Patterson-Gladney (G) and Betty Brown-Chappell (B) reminisce on their childhood. They are sisters and grew up with six other siblings on a rural farm near Bangor, Michigan.
G and B reflect on the various jobs their father held to support their family, in addition to tending to the farm to keep them fed. Though he served in World War II, he was denied veteran benefits because he was African American.
G and B remember the skill their mother had in managing all 8 of her children.
B talks about how their mother always wanted to go to college and how her children ultimately accomplished that goal for her. All 8 of them attended and graduated from university.
G remembers them and their siblings being the only African American students at their school for a long time growing up.
B remembers when their neighbors set fire to the back of their home because of the color of their skin.
G talks about being the first African American woman elected to the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners.
B and G look back on the moment when G first won the local election.
Participants
- Betty Brown-Chappell
- Gail Patterson-Gladney