A Sense of Community

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“Well, my father ended up as a peddler selling ladies dresses. And from that, he made enough money to open a small clothing store in the Black business district in Jacksonville.” 

“Yes, we actually became aware and acquainted with some Black business owners and stores, especially across the street from my father’s store, Anderson’s Smoke Shop. He sold every kind of tobacco products. So my father would do his tax return every year. In return, he would pay my father with cans of tobacco for his pipes and a box of King Edward cigars. My father never smoked cigarettes, always his pipe and cigar. Next door was Vandora Jackson’s Café and Bakery, and I remember both of them very well.”  

“The first professional baseball game I ever saw was between two Black teams. My father, coming from Lithuania, didn’t know baseball from beans. But Mr. Anderson gave him some tickets to some of the games. So that’s how my father got introduced to baseball and became a baseball fan. So, we sympathized, and we understood the situation with Black families.”