Betty Reid Soskin

We had no idea that Rick would be subject, the target of those dinnertime conversations that were unmitigated bigotry in the presence of white children by their parents. and that they would act out that hatred on the school grounds against my child. We wouldn't know that until much later. We did make some friends, a couple of friends.

One was Marion Powelson, who had bought a lot with her psychiatrist husband because we were there. She was progressive. and Bessie Gilbert, a Mormon, six foot tall, pioneer woman across the street. These were our friends. As the house was under construction, a strange thing began to happen. I would be sitting in my car at the end of the day, just about dusk, sitting in the car in the summer heat,

One was Marion Powelson, who had bought a lot with her psychiatrist husband because we were there. She was progressive. and Bessie Gilbert, a Mormon, six foot tall, pioneer woman across the street. These were our friends. As the house was under construction, a strange thing began to happen. I would be sitting in my car at the end of the day, just about dusk, sitting in the car in the summer heat,

One was Marion Powelson, who had bought a lot with her psychiatrist husband because we were there. She was progressive. and Bessie Gilbert, a Mormon, six foot tall, pioneer woman across the street. These were our friends. As the house was under construction, a strange thing began to happen. I would be sitting in my car at the end of the day, just about dusk, sitting in the car in the summer heat,

watching the streets, listening to the frogs, listening to the crickets, trying to get used to being in this area. And each day, almost without question, some neighbor would walk down the street, would stop at the car, would say, I am, and they'd get me their names, I hope you'll be happy here.

watching the streets, listening to the frogs, listening to the crickets, trying to get used to being in this area. And each day, almost without question, some neighbor would walk down the street, would stop at the car, would say, I am, and they'd get me their names, I hope you'll be happy here.

watching the streets, listening to the frogs, listening to the crickets, trying to get used to being in this area. And each day, almost without question, some neighbor would walk down the street, would stop at the car, would say, I am, and they'd get me their names, I hope you'll be happy here.

At the same time, the Improvement Association was meeting, and we were getting vicious letters threatening to burn the lumber as fast as we could stack it to do the construction on the house. It was a very, very strange thing because it seemed to me that what people could do collectively, few could do individually. because almost every one of those neighbors stopped by at some point.

At the same time, the Improvement Association was meeting, and we were getting vicious letters threatening to burn the lumber as fast as we could stack it to do the construction on the house. It was a very, very strange thing because it seemed to me that what people could do collectively, few could do individually. because almost every one of those neighbors stopped by at some point.

At the same time, the Improvement Association was meeting, and we were getting vicious letters threatening to burn the lumber as fast as we could stack it to do the construction on the house. It was a very, very strange thing because it seemed to me that what people could do collectively, few could do individually. because almost every one of those neighbors stopped by at some point.

One day, Marian Powelson, who had been to Sam's Market down by the creek, came home, pounded on my door, irate. She was holding a poster in her hand announcing a minstrel show at the school. A minstrel show, any of you can remember or are aware, was a form of entertainment that took place during Reconstruction. It was always white folks pretending to be black folks.

One day, Marian Powelson, who had been to Sam's Market down by the creek, came home, pounded on my door, irate. She was holding a poster in her hand announcing a minstrel show at the school. A minstrel show, any of you can remember or are aware, was a form of entertainment that took place during Reconstruction. It was always white folks pretending to be black folks.

One day, Marian Powelson, who had been to Sam's Market down by the creek, came home, pounded on my door, irate. She was holding a poster in her hand announcing a minstrel show at the school. A minstrel show, any of you can remember or are aware, was a form of entertainment that took place during Reconstruction. It was always white folks pretending to be black folks.

And they were always created ridicule of African Americans, of people of color. But this minstrel show was being put on by the PTA as a fundraiser at the school that my child was a single black student. Marion, in fury, said, you must do something. I hadn't a clue of how to confront this. I lived with it for about 24 hours. I didn't know how to explain it to my children.

And they were always created ridicule of African Americans, of people of color. But this minstrel show was being put on by the PTA as a fundraiser at the school that my child was a single black student. Marion, in fury, said, you must do something. I hadn't a clue of how to confront this. I lived with it for about 24 hours. I didn't know how to explain it to my children.

And they were always created ridicule of African Americans, of people of color. But this minstrel show was being put on by the PTA as a fundraiser at the school that my child was a single black student. Marion, in fury, said, you must do something. I hadn't a clue of how to confront this. I lived with it for about 24 hours. I didn't know how to explain it to my children.

It was something that was alien to my lifetime. I had grown up in California. On the day before the minstrel show was to be held, one day after Marian's announcement, I got into my car, drove to the school not having a clue as to what I was going to say. My breath was being gasped out. The lump in my throat threatened to smother me. And as I neared the school, panic set in.

It was something that was alien to my lifetime. I had grown up in California. On the day before the minstrel show was to be held, one day after Marian's announcement, I got into my car, drove to the school not having a clue as to what I was going to say. My breath was being gasped out. The lump in my throat threatened to smother me. And as I neared the school, panic set in.

It was something that was alien to my lifetime. I had grown up in California. On the day before the minstrel show was to be held, one day after Marian's announcement, I got into my car, drove to the school not having a clue as to what I was going to say. My breath was being gasped out. The lump in my throat threatened to smother me. And as I neared the school, panic set in.

But I got out, parked my car, walked into the principal's office down the hall. He was out on the playground, I suppose. But his costume was hanging over the doorway. Big blousey black pants, a white shirt. I suppose it was a bandana tie with red polka dots. A kinky wig was on his desk. I sat and wondered what I would say. And suddenly, there he was, coming down the hallway.