Merlyn Hurd and Adrienne Hurd
Recorded
March 25, 2018
Archived
March 25, 2018
47:22 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
lmn003747
Description
Adrienne Hurd and mother, Merlyn Hurd, remember Hugh Hurd, Merlyn's husband and Adrienne's father. They reflect on being an interracial family in the early 1960s New York, the challenges they faced as a result, and their relationship.Subject Log / Time Code
NH describes meeting her future husband, Hugh Hurd, at an audition for a Broadway show. They ended up starring in the show together.
NH remembers not being able to date her husband. They had to go out as a group. She remembers when they got married it was still illegal in many states.
NH remembers worrying when Hugh left their apartment that he might not come home due to police violence.
NH describes being forced to look for apartments on her own because nobody would rent to an interracial couple.
AH describes being bullied in high school and being told that she was "not black enough".
MH and AH talk about Hugh's time in the service during WWII. He was drafted when he was 19 and was one of the black soldiers who liberated Dachau Concentration Camp.
AH tells a story of powerful encounter on a NYC bus that Hugh had later in life, where he was reintroduced to a man who's life he saved at Dachau.
MH recalls knowing as a young girl that she would leave Oklahoma, go to college, and move to NYC to become an actress.
AH tells a story of seeing her Dad in a play where he was about to be hanged. She ran onstage to save him.
Hugh was selective of the roles he allowed his daughters to see. He wanted their idea of black men to be a positive one.
AH thanks her Mom for being an incredible role model.
Participants
- Merlyn Hurd
- Adrienne Hurd