Prior to desegregation and before the riots, the African American community was just that in some urban areas. We lived together and we were buried together. We came off the plantations and landholding farms and were sequestered in the ghettos of America.

African Americans moved their dollars in the African American community. There were all types of grocery stores, record shops, clothing stores, book stores, shoe repair shops. If you wanted to make a purchase of goods or services, you could make that purchase within your own community.

We had to support each other because we risked our lives when we shopped white. Now, they want all of our resources. Now, money has one color green as long as we stay in our places.

How can we shop with African American merchants if they are no longer living in our communities. When they no longer have ties to the African American communities. How does that benefit the African American community? How does that work today? The connection is broken.

The Jews had a very high presence in the African American community, they were our first level oppressors. They owned a great deal of the property that we could not purchase. The Jews also owned businesses within our community.

One of the apexes of the Black Nationalist movement was during this time. We have had a number of reawakenings and resurgences in America. In the 60’s and 70’s Black Nationalism was on the rise again.

With the resurgence of Black Nationalism the oppressors had to change their tactics to further oppress us. The Jews and the Arabs switched places. The Arabs came into the neighborhoods with the advent of crack cocaine. Is there a connection?

How do historic enemies change places in the African American community without being connected? How are their connections to be perceived? There is a very strong connection. That is where the strand stops for me. I have not found enough research to substantiate and translate the rest of the story.