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"IN MANY AREAS, OUR PEOPLE HAVE RUINED THE GRASS, BROKEN
DOWN THE SHRUBBERY AND TORN UP THE HOUSE.

"WE HAVE A WAY OF DOUBLE-PARKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
STREETS AND VISITING WITH OUR FRIENDS, AND WHEN OTHER DRIVERS
DARE TO HONK TO GET BY, WE GET ANGRY AND USE VILE, PROFANE
LANGUAGE AT THE PASSING MOTORISTS. MANY OF OUR CHILDREN WALK
ALONG THE STREETS USING FOUL LANGUAGE IN GENERAL CONVERSATION.

"AS LONG AS THAT HAPPENS, THE WHILE [WHITE] PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
MOVE AWAY. OF COURSE, WE CAN TRY TO MOVE, TOO. BUT, IF I AM A
SLOPPY, DIRTY, NOISY, ROWDY NEIGHBOR IN ONE PART OF TOWN, I WILL
BE THE SAME IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU DON'T GET CULTURE ON A
MOVING VAN.

"AS A TEACHER FOR 30 YEARS IN AN AREA CONSIDERED UNDERPRIVILEGED,
I TAUGHT MY CHILDREN THAT: 'NO MATTER HOW POOR I AM, I CAN BE CLEAN
AND NEAT - I CAN HAVE PRIDE IN MYSELF.'

"I TOLD THEM:

" 'WE NEGROES SHOULD NOT GO AROUND WITH A CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER.
WHEN YOU GET ON THE BUS, DON'T GET ON THERE MAD AT EVERYBODY. THE
VERY PERSON YOU'RE MAD AT MAY BE THE KINDEST PERSON YOU KNOW. AND,
IF PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AT YOU SMILING ALL THE TIME, THEY MAY
HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS.'