Growing Up On Long Island: Racism 101

I’ve often said Long Island was one of the most segregated places in the nation. For all the talk about the northeast being filled with “liberals” I didn’t see a lot of it. I had people who modeled a behavior and a way of life that was righteous, and then there were other people.

I know it existed for so long. I could go into so many stories.

Sonia (above) came to visit us each summer through the Fresh Air Fund. At the time, they not only had camps that some children went to, but some came and visited people’s homes as well. When Sonia first came to visit, Elmont was a white town with mostly Jewish and Italian residents. I was a minority because I was Protestant. My parents welcomed her with open arms. I was…