Who Are You?

When I was growing up in Newark in the 40s the “race-cards” were constantly being thrown around.

Being a little Jewish kid I was subjected to being called a “Kike”, a “Jew bagel”, a “Heeb”, and a “Sheeny”.

The Italians were the “Wops”, the Dagos, and the Ginnies”.

The Irish were the “Micks”

The Germans were the “Krauts”.

The non-Jews were the “Goys”. Non-Jewish girls were “Shicksas” and the non-Jewish men were a “Shagatz”.

The African Americans were the “n” word, “Jigaboos”, “Colored”, “Coons”, or “Tar Babies”.

This was my life in the East Coast. And if some label was in the territory of a different label …read more