Mable Howard
| Mable "Mama" Howard | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 3, 1905 Van Vleck, Texas |
| Died | March 29, 1994 (aged 89) Berkeley, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Mama Howard, 'Ma Howard |
| Occupation | Ship Painter, Community Activist |
| Known for | pushing BART underground within Berkeley city limits |
| Spouse(s) | Rolly Howard |
| Children | 10 children including Mildred Howard |
Mable "Mama" Howard (February 3, 1905 - March 29, 1994, Berkeley, California) was a humanitarian, political activist, union activist, and civic leader.
Born Mable Daisy Shrock on February 3, 1905, in Van Vleck, Texas, a small town in Matagorda County, near the Gulf of Mexico. She attended a boarding school in Conroe, Texas where she organized the students and became the first student body president at her school. Throughout her life, Mable was always politically active.
In 1921, Mable Shrock married Rolly Howard and shortly thereafter moved to Galveston, Texas where he worked as a longshoreman by day, and with her in their antique shop by night, while they raised nine children. Rolly & Mable moved to the Bay Area during World War Two to work for Bethlehem Steel at the Alameda Works Shipyard. Mable worked as a ship painter and Rolly continued his work as a longshoreman. She was the first black woman admitted to the Painter's Union. After gaining admittance, Howard assisted in getting other women into the union. Her union work earned her the respect and friendship of labor leader Harry Bridges. Furthermore, through her union activity, Mable maintained a working relationship with the ILWU for over 30 years.
In 1947, Mable and Rolly moved their family, now with ten kids, to South Berkeley, Berkeley, California, a mixed neighborhood. Mable Howard was called Mama Howard in part because she politically nurtured many prominent civic leaders. Her home became an open meeting place for the socially active and politically inclined in the area. She continued with her social and community activities her entire life and believed she could save the world. Mable is quoted as saying: "If I could put my arms around the whole world I would!"
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