The West Philadelphia Blacks of our generation, I think, were not much
different from the immigrants from Calabria or Ukraine or Laos. Their
experience was one of fleeing rural backwardness and oppression for
brighter prospects in a more cosmopolitan environs.
The West Philadelphia Blacks who are now attending School District
facilities are nothing like our generation. They are are a
third-generation urban proletariat that has evolved an
increasingly-divergent dialect, thus proving a lack of steady social
contacts with the non-Black majority around them. In far too many ways,
they are cut off by a local culture from the world of tomorrow's
opportunities.
This local culture has to give; its leading spokespersons /want it to
give --/ to/ /evolve and develop./ /They too want their children to have
a crack at conquering the world. And that's what I think: that they
should conquer the world. Why not? Why leave it to somebody else's kids?
-- Tony West
Wilma de Soto wrote:
Actually, I was speaking about West Philadelphia blacks of MY generation.
Also, Germantown blacks and North Philly and South Philly blacks.
Michael Nutter for instance. Kenny Gamble. The late Gary DeLoatch,
Principal dancer of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.
People I grew up with who were in Philadanco.
My own brother who is Bass Trombonist in the LA Philharmonic, previously of
Mexico City, Honolulu, Colorado Philharmonic, Cleveland Orch.
Robert Hooks. Ed Bradley.
Just to name a few.
Say Yes To Education I feel could have really done something for us and our
parents.
