ePub Before the Fires: An Oral History of African American Life in the Bronx from the 1930s to the 1960s by Mark Naison; Bob Gumbs in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Ray Bromleygreat!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Before The Heroin . . . .By SundayAtDuskWhen I first started reading this book; I thought the stories were a bit flat. These oral histories weren't as lively as the other recent memoirs I had read about growing up in one place or another. But then I reminded myself that these were memories being told to someone else; readjusted my expectations a bit; and soon was looking forward to each new person being interviewed. What was being stated over and over again was that the Bronx was a good place to grow up; a good place to live . . . before the fires and before the heroin.From the 1930s-1960s; blacks from Harlem; from the South; from many other places; were moving to the Bronx and discovering there was no violence when they moved into predominantly white neighborhood. The whites would eventually move out; but before that time; the neighborhoods were integrated and the schools were integrated. There were violent gangs; but most of those interviewed said they just learned how to avoid them; learned where not to go. Doors and windows were left unlocked; as well as opened in the summer; and people watched out for each other. Schools even remained open at night with activities to keep children productively occupied.Music was a huge part of life for so many of those interviewed. There was music in the schools; music in homes; music in church; music in clubs; music on the streets. From jazz to doo-wop; music came up over and over again in the interviews. Church was also a big part of life for many; although some families went back to Harlem to attend the churches they attended before moving to the Bronx. Most of those interviewed grew up in homes with both a father and mother; too; many fathers working as building superintendents; Pullman porters or at the post office. There were mentors in the families; mentors in the schools; mentors in the neighborhood.What destroyed the Bronx; according to most everyone; was heroin. People started on marijuana; got addicted to heroin; and it was all downhill from there. Doors and windows had to be locked to keep the drug addicts from stealing whatever they could get their hands on; and; according to one person interviewed; drug dealers were being thrown off roofs. In addition; people had to worry about being mugged; when they use to walk home at night with no fear. Economically; the neighborhoods began to suffer; too; and budget cuts greatly damaged music programs and other activities in the schools. Finally; there were the fires . . . but before the fires; there were a whole bunch of kids growing up in Bronx neighborhoods that they look back on; as adults; with tremendous love and loyalty.(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review.)