| Summary: | In this interview, Washington Marrisett discusses his life in Birmingham from the Depression through the Civil Rights Movement. Marrisett remembers the Depression and the things he did to get by. He discusses the soup wagons in Kelly Ingram Park; the lines were segregated, but everyone ate the same food. He says he sold junk and scrap he would find in the garbage, including aluminum, iron, copper, and rags. He also hoboed for a time, traveling from Detroit to Birmingham. He explains that hoboing was dangerous. He remembers seeing blacks and whites, men and women in the life. Marrisett explains that while he didn't take advantage of Red Cross aid, he did go on welfare. He remembers that the people in the welfare office--even the blacks--made it hard on blacks to their checks. Marrisett also worked on the WPA, cleaning up parks and cutting grass. He says they were paid in something like foodstamps rather than with money. Marrisett also talks about working for the railroad in the twenties and during World War II. He enjoyed the travel. He demonstrates some railroad working calls for the interviewer. Marrisett recalls the rallies that took place during the Civil Rights Movement and speaks kindly of Martin Luther King, Jr.The digitization of this collection was funded by a gift from EBSCO Industries.
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