History Of Newark

Submitted By hodgesna
Words: 1488
Pages: 6

Over the past 40 years, Newark has gone through tumultuous racial segregation. From the very beginning, Newark has been ever changing especially socially following the Newark Riots of 1967. In an effort to redevelop Newark, our African American residents still suffers as a result of its revitalization. Through the social shifts of the 1950’s, Newark’s people of color have endured unfortunate circumstance due to the change in the city’s government, poor housing, and troubles in the economy. With hopes to pursue a new life, many African American families migrated to the northern states with the thought of living a dream that guarantees a home, job and free education for their children. After escaping Jim Crow and his segregated laws, many African Americans soon had seen that battle was only half fought. An influx of poor, uneducated, unskilled, African Americans came up north to take advantage of the greater job opportunities and the higher welfare benefits here. Prior to the migration of southern blacks the city of Newark had already been structured by its people. People were separated by ward. Newark was, and still is the most diverse city in this city. In Newark, injustice was directed toward African American residents living in the poverty­ stricken Central Ward. Its five wards are split apart and essentially segregated. The West Ward, once known as predominantly Irish-American neighborhood today is home to neighborhoods composed primarily of African-Americans and Haitians. The South Ward was once home to predominantly Jewish and now consists of African Americans and Hispanics. The north ward is and always will be the most diverse section of Newark it is a mix of Italian-Americans, African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and immigrants from the Caribbean and Latin America. The east ward is split into different neighborhoods; Ironbound, Dayton, and the Downtown section and is home to roughly 55,000 residents. Spanish and Puerto Rican, Cuban, Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish, Slavic and Lithuanian are the majority of the population, Portuguese being the largest. The Central Ward was and always will be predominantly black and the starting point of the Newark Riots of 1967. Some strongly believe that police brutality was the culprit of the event that changed Newark, NJ on that hot day in July. However, the built up emotions of mistreatment and forgetfulness of the lives of African Americans were the true cause of the Newark Riots of 1967. The deteriorated housing, high unemployment, education, a corrupt municipal government, and a lack of political set the scene for Violence.
In the Central Ward of Newark , many people became displaced by the idea of urban renewal .To many , urban renewal was rather referred to as “Negro Removal” , because of the mass amount of people who would be without a home due to this renewal. With more than 150 acres of slums cleared to accommodate what we now know as UMDNJ, highways, and downtown development of Newark became furious at this selfish gesture (Hayden 1968:6). What people couldn't understand is “How could Newark Possibly become a better place while tearing down its people?” With dilapidated housing and less than standard efforts for up-keep, moving business’ in was the only way to remodel the now deteriorating city of Newark. Many buildings such as JFK Recreation Center, UMDNJ and redeveloped townhomes now take the place of what used to be peoples’ homes. A first-hand account was taken of the new city and the change it has gone through "I don't see anything left," says Heard Hackett, former citizen of Newark (NJ.com). Being that the central ward was the starting point of the riots, it was hit the hardest July 14, 1967 , the fury of its citizens could no longer be contained and sparked a new revolution citywide and lead the way for further confrontation.
Housing slowly began to deteriorate after the shortages in housing decreased due to the influx of