4.5
Before the Fires
ByPublisher Description
In the 1930s, word spread in Harlem that there were spacious apartments for rent in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Landlords, desperate to avoid foreclosure, began putting signs in windows and placing ads in New York's black newspapers that said "We rent to select colored families"—by which they meant those with a securely employed wage earner and light complexions. Black families moved in by the score, beginning a period in which the Bronx served as a borough of hope and upward mobility.
Chronicling a time when African Americans were suspended between the best and worst possibilities of New York City,
tells the personal stories of men and women who lived in the South Bronx before the social and economic decline of the late 1960s. Located on a hill overlooking a large industrial district, Morrisania offered migrants from Harlem, the South, and the Caribbean an opportunity to raise children in a neighborhood with better schools, strong churches, more shopping, less crime, and clean air. It also boasted vibrant music venues, giving rise to such titans as Herbie Hancock, Eddie Palmieri, Valerie Simpson, the Chantels, and Jimmy Owens.
Rich in detail, these interviews describe growing up and living in communities rarely mentioned in other histories.
captures the optimism of the period—as well as the heartache of what was lost in the urban crisis and the burning of the Bronx.
"Excellent . . . profound, moving." —Robert W. Snyder, Rutgers University, Newark
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesBefore the Fires Reviews
4.5
“An enriching and magnificent book! I love how no one denied the beauty of their upbringing but acknowledged the demise of the neighborhood. I wonder why black neighborhood seem to decline after bursts of creativity. The Bronx had stability and productivity. Drugs entered the scene and wrecked the community. I hate that. I am relieved that the Bronx is undergoing a revival. May the glory of old times become new again.”
About Mark Naison
Bob Gumbs is a graphic designer, photographer, artist, book publisher, and author. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in the South Bronx, he has published and is the author of a number of books on African American history and culture. His art has been exhibited in several venues in New York City.
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
