Code,991023
Subject,Paul Lewis
Date,7/28/2014
Interviewer,Willette Crawford
Abstract,"Paul Lewis recalls his life in the Fairfax neighborhood, growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, the ways in which the community has changed, and what must be done to better the area. "
Tags,Fairfax
Special Notes,
Minutes: ,1:05:00
0,Has lived in Fairfax his entire life.
1,"Both parents are native to Kentucky, came to Cleveland during southern migration looking for economic opportunities. Parents helped raise at least 25 foster children."
2,Father was a boiler maker for Standard Oil. Paul is the only natural child his parents had. He is 70 years old. Only left Fairfax while in college and for 7 years once married. 
3,"Attended Bolton elementary, Rawlings junior high, transferred to Alexander Hamilton junior high, and graduated from John Adams high school."
4,"Graduated in 1961, went to summer school to get ahead and graduate early. Schools were segregated and it was very racist. Could see the differences in the facilities and even subject matter for blacks and whites. "
5,"When he went to high school decided to take German. Lots of businesses- grocery stores, car towing, restaurants and bars"
6,"Art's seafood, Donald King had a club called the Corner Tavern. Dry cleaning establishments, gas stations, physician and attorney offices throughout community."
7,"A number of the attorneys became well known. Stanley Oliver lived next door to Lewis and fought for Civil Rights cases. Had a black bank called Quincy's Saving and Loan, owned by councilmen."
8,
9,"Karamu House is celebrating their centennial,has many renowned alumni from the area. Area has several well known, prominent churches. "
10,In Cleveland was a direct route of migration of African American community from less nice areas to nicer neighborhoods. People moved from downtown to the East. 
11,"Fairfax is area where blacks moved to and owned homes. At times blacks were red-lined so where they could move was limited, resulted in concentration of blacks. "
12,Other areas were Glenville and Mount Pleasant. Blacks had the money for whatever they wanted to endeavor in but didn't always have opportunities. 
13,Took some acting classes at Karamu House. Spent a lot of time in school yard playing sports and at the Cedar Avenue YMCA. Friday nights they would have dances. 
14,Dances would be sponsored by school social clubs. Used to know your neighbors and if someone needed assistance it was provided. 
15,"There was community, people talked with each other. The crime was not as bad, if you did something wrong people knew and would tell parents. "
16,Had job delivering papers. Recipients were mostly white and they offered him opportunity to make money. 
17,"Money was not a problem for him, he earned it and bought what he needed. Was very independent. "
18,"Karamu meant a great deal, just like now people have opportunity to participate in a great thing but many don't. Not everyone is interested in doing arts and music. "
19,"Always thought those in the community could have taken greater advantage of Karamu and what it had to offer. Organization puts on great plays and productions, has always done a great job."
20,Was not as large back then as it is now. Attended high school with Gilbert Moses. Has spoken to Bill Cobbs but does not know him personally.
21,Advantage of living in Cleveland is that it's affordable. Living in DC he saw how much more people pay there for the same thing.
22,"Probably within 5-6 hours of majority of U.S. so it is a nice central location. Have great facilities for leisure, first class universities, a world renown medical community."
23,"The economic situation could be a lot better. As a rust belt community, a lot of the work opportunities from the manufacturing have been shipped overseas. "
24,Many people Lewis knows stayed in one place and saved and were able to retire early on. People were able to prosper. 
25,"In Detroit was just the automobile industry so when it suffered the city went down, Cleveland didn't have that because of diversity of manufacturing. "
26,Cleveland can be a good shot for someone who wants to live a decent life and prosper without spending a fortune. 
27,"Problems all over the country with safety forces, feels racism plays a big role but it is hard to overcome because it is ingrained. "
28,"A new school was being built in Glenville, a reverend got in front of a steamroller and they ran him over and killed him. "
29,A number of Caucasians have tried to fight against racism.
30,"Father always spoke to him about the challenges he would face in white America, wanted him to know what would take place and not be disillusioned."
31,"Went to visit paternal grandmother in Kentucky and had to sit in the balcony of a movie theater because he is black. Sunday is still the most segregated day, races don't go to church together."
32,"Yesterday the Plain Dealer had great monuments in Cleveland, had Euclid Beach and stated there was a time when blacks could only go on certain days. "
33,"Attended Ohio State University in 1962, he had too much fun and had to leave for a while because of GPA."
34,In 1963 a friend went to march on Washington Lewis wanted to go but his father said he couldn't. Groups trying to make people see that blacks are human beings.
35,"Malcolm X came to speak at a church in Glenville, Lewis went to see him. Carl Stokes, first African American to become mayor in a major city, was elected because of a voter registration drive."
36,There were all types of efforts to address the problem facing African Americans.
37,"The sense of struggle has disappeared from the city, youth do not have appreciation for rights that did not exist before civil rights. Malcolm X was very inspiring."
38,"Media does not address the racial issues to extent it could to make things better. Malcolm called for people to wake up and try to better their situations, deal with own community. "
39,"People say things were better before integration because blacks had their own places and things, but Lewis says if you look at big picture it was not better."
40,The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. Unskilled labor does not exist as they did previously and minimum wage does not allow you to raise a family. 
41,Looks at professionals now and sees a big disconnect with situation today compared to when community was tighter and they lived next door. 
42,"Chooses to stay in Fairfax, has no reason to leave. Interaction could stop a lot of the foolishness that takes place. "
43,Session taking place at center about making the community safer. Have people who cannot afford to move out of community and are afraid. 
44,"Asked neighbor to stop performing with his motorcycle because he was disturbing the community, and they have not done it again. "
45,Through interaction we can get along and make things better.
46,A lot of people don't know that they do not know how to live among others. 
47,Social morals of the 1960s were about doing your own thing and do whatever you are going to do. 
48,Relaxing of social morays have led to disrespect between people. People need to have self respect and respect others.
49,"Reaching out and knowing each other, helping each other can foster sense of community that was once had. It is difficult because people are spread out mentally as much as physically."
50,Don't know that they will ever have it back like they did. 
51,"Problem with youth is the praising of violence and nudity, things that cause problem. Is not a religious man."
52,"Parents never went to church. When father was younger a preacher conned his mother out of some money so he never went to church. When he was younger Lewis went to Antioch, parents wanted him to make his own choice about it. "
53,"Man makes mistake, but it is ability to learn from mistakes that determines what you will do with your life. "
54,"Fairfax has largest single employer in the state with the Cleveland Clinic. Community is showing progress with housing, developed site for grandparents raising grandchildren."
55,Cleveland Clinic is building to grow research base. Highway is being built to extend through the Fairfax community and area will be built upon.
56,"People can purchase housing at reduced rates, the Clinic wants people to come work for them so there is opportunity. "
57,
58,Wants to have an arts district with Karamu House being an anchor. New library is being built in the community. 
59,
60,Describing Fairfax in just a few words- continued social & economic progress. 
61,"There are some businesses that no longer exist, but other things are coming or taking place."
62,"See this housing fiasco from 2008-2009, didn't manufacture it but bought into it. "
63,Bought into a lie and paid the consequence. City of Cleveland is lax in its role of maintaining housing.
64,Friend's house in Shaker Heights is in foreclosure but they did inspection and she still has to remodel. Need something like that in Cleveland.
65,Cleveland can do better to make city better overall. 
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