Life In The 6Os and 7Os

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Raymond Getz Jr.

Raymond Jr. was born in 1947 and grew up in Los Angeles. After Asking Ray what his experiences were during the Civil Rights Movement, I learned about the Social Racism occurring in his Community and Job. Married to June Getz in 1965, she had moved here from American Samoa and graduated from nursing school, and soon was introduced to the racist and prejudice attitude of America. Both my Grandpa and Grandma had dropped out of school to be with each other and support their family and soon after they went back to school and got their Diplomas together. Being married to a “colored woman” Ray was frowned upon by many and ignored by people. Word got around fast that he was married to a “colored” woman and people had criticized him on that, jumping to the idea that she was black, back then you learned that people saw others by the color of their skin, no matter what. You were either colored, or white. However he did not show any racist acts against blacks or any race on his part. Throughout his life, Ray witnessed the racism against Women, Gays, African Americans, and even toward whites from African Americans. He even saw a KKK meeting happening involving police. During the 70s ray had started working as a Manager and Engineer for Douglas than soon Boeing. While working at Douglas, Ray had worked on the Douglas Plane DC8 and McDonald Douglas MC10 and MC11. At Boeing, Ray had worked on the Boeing 747, C17, and Tomahawk Cruise Missile. Through Rays interview I learned that not everyone was racist towards others, but everyone experienced a little bit of prejudice and racism.

 

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JOE ADICKES

Joe Adickes, grew up in Playa Del Rey Los Angeles, California and experienced first hand what is was like growing up with integration.  Joe attended Oval Wright Junior High where they took 50% of Long Beach high school students then 50% of beach city kids, and attempted integration by mixing  the blacks and whites in hopes that they will get along. While asking Joe what his experiences were like growing up with African Americans and integration right off the bat he states, “um, not good…”. He then continues to say, “They put us in a school with a 20ft fence all around, and told us that we need to get along.” This did not go so well for the whites and blacks were both heated from what was going on all over the Untied States. Joe claims that there were weapons brought into the schools through the African Americans hair! Joe, concerned  for his own safety, joined self defense classes and became a black belt. Joe claimed growing up, he was faced with a lot of violence with African Americans, “At one point i had about 600 of them chasing me… looking to beat me up.”  His middle school experience impacted his views towards African Americans at the time, never the less he believes in equal rights and equality for all of man kind.

 

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ANA RUBEN

Ana Ruben grew up in Chicago during the civil rights act and she claims that she was not faced with any segregation or racism for she lived in an area with few African Americans. The only news or unjust acts she saw upon african Americans was on the news. I asked Ana what her opinions were seeing the segregation and riots on television she responded, “We were mortified… I didn’t feel like we were better than him so it really felt like that was in another world, and not understanding why people would treat someone like that.” Ana has felt a similar struggle that African Americans have for fighting for equality. Ana has fought a very long battle for gaining homosexual rights, she has been through the riots, she has been judgment and hurtful words, so she has first hand experience of what fighting for equal rights is like; for this she can truly sympathize with African Americans from this era.

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ANGIE DICKSON

Angie Dickson born and grew up in New Jersey , and lived across the street form a catholic church. After asking Angie about her interactions with African Americans during the 60’s she states, “The only exposure I ever had to African Americans was when they came to clean the pools.” Although she wasn’t that exposed to tv or radio, racism, growing up in New Jersey she joined the US Air Force and was deployed to Alabama were she experienced a bit more. Angie makes the connection between the prejudice women experience to the prejudice behavior African-Americans receive. Angie continues to say, “Growing up with a brother he had more privileges than me and that never made sense to me.” Angie has a sense of camaraderie with every culture and she sympathized with African Americans during this period. Angie was very isolated during this civil rights act however, she is a strong believer in equality for all.

 

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TRICIA COHEN

Tricia was born in Washington state in the fall of nineteen sixty. She grew up in a very progressive time, in a home that wasn’t. She was the rebel in her family and was adapting to this time via her style and music taste. She possesses a quality that allows her to get along with a variety of people and told me about the many wild things she did with her friends during this time period. She was open to accepting all different types of people and learned a lot of life lessons in this time period that she applies to her life today.

Tricia, my mother, is quite an interesting person. I really learned a lot of things about her just interviewing her, even though I’ve literally spent every moment of my waking life at her side. Stay tuned for this tell all interview of the one, the only, original, trendsetter Tricia Cohen.