 Claudette Austin was born September 5, 1939 in Birmingham. Her birth mother name is Mary Jane Gadson and her biological father name is C.P. Austin.  Her father was not really there for her, and later denied to be in his daughter’s life by her mother.  When she was just a baby she went off to live with her great-aunt, Mary Ann Colvin, and her great-uncle, Q.P. Colvin in Pine Level. About thirty miles down from Montgomery. She calls them mom and dad!

 When she was 4 years old, it was her first time she found what happens when you acted up to whites. She was in line at the general store. Older white kids were pointing and laughing at her, they wanted to see her hands. One of them cut in line and was in front of her, He put his hands to hers. Her mom came across the room and slapped her on the face. She said “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to touch them?” The white boy’s mom nodded and said “That’s right Mary.