Quotes from a Close-Knit and Thriving Community
“The Black Bottom was a good neighborhood to live in. Everyone respected each other and looked out for one another.” – John Wilson, former Black Bottom resident
“In the 1950s and 1960s, the neighborhoods were safe. There were fights but they were ‘fair fights.’ The bad influences like drugs and teen pregnancy were avoided. The people had pride in their families and the community.” – John Wilson, former Black Bottom resident
“Residents left their doors unlocked.” – Michael Roepel, former Black Bottom resident
“My grandmother received many letters from the city about renewal of her area in 1955 and 1956. There were meetings at the local schools, where city official ‘pressed’ acceptance to their ‘final’ offer. It was a ‘take it and leave’ deal, then the City came in and took the houses on Warren Street.” – John Wilson, former Black Bottom resident
“Many of the people were very traditional, whatever the authorities said, they would go along with.” – Michael Roepel, former Black Bottom resident
“During those days, there was no violence like there is today, you used to settle things with old fashioned fist fights.” – Russell Horne, former Black Bottom resident
“You could always depend on your neighbors to watch out for each other. It was a close knit community. You could leave your doors and windows open. In the summer, we used to take the porch furniture down to the sidewalk and we’d sit there. We’d leave our windows wide open and nobody would bother us.” – Mrs. Richman, former Black Bottom resident
“Everybody looked out for everybody. If you needed your rent paid, people got together to pay your rent.” – Margaret Hopkins, former Black Bottom resident
“I’ll always be connected to the Black Bottom. We all will. It’s been planted in all of us. It’s our roots, our hearts, our souls.” Anthony Lawrence, former Black Bottom resident
“They were good people. Everybody knew each other; everybody respected each other. It’s not like now. The people and the neighborhood were close-knit.” Larry Mapp, former Black Bottom resident
“One of my most memorable recollections of the Black Bottom was our togetherness. We were just like a family. And we enjoyed each other so much. I will always love everybody that used to live down there. I wish that we could still all be together.” – Fanny Johnson, former Black Bottom resident
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