By the time of the riots I was married
and living in Bloomfield, I worked in Orange. I remember that day
I was working on a report that was need "yesterday" under
a lot of pressure to get it done - right now.
Suddenly the VP came around to everyone and told us to shut down
and go home - immediately! When I questioned him he said there were
reports that the rioters were moving up south orange avenue into
our area. The building was cleared in a matter of minutes. From
then on I drove home with a tire iron on the seat beside me. My
husband purchased a hand gun for us to keep at home since I was
usually home alone for a few hours until his workday ended.
My mother and youngest sister lived in Vailsburg and another sister
lived in Irvington, she could hear gunfire from her apartment. Road
blocks were set up in many areas. The city I grew up in (on 2nd
St and Sussex Avenue) disappeared. There had always been black kids
in my classes at school both elementary and HS but I could no longer
look at them as old school chums, now I wasn't sure if they were
enemies who would beat me up or worse.
Once, years later I tried to show my kids the house and neighborhood
I grew up in, but the people we drove past were so threatening that
I asked my husband to turn around and get us out of here. I think
one of the things that still angers me is the continued attitude
of most black leaders and the liberal press that black America is
always the innocent victim and all the racial problems are brought
on by white America - what a load of horse manure! Until black America
steps up and is willing to judge themselves by the same standards
they use to judge whites we are never going to solve our problems
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