( Traffic, Car Horns Honking ) Narrator: IF PEOPLE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS BUILDING-- THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM, ( ♪ ) HOME OF THE LEGENDS OF ROCK AND ROLL.
( Jefferson Airplane Singing ) ♪ IT'S NO SECRET... ♪ ♪ HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS FOR YOU.
♪ ♪ IT'S NO SECRET...♪ Narrator: FEW OF THE KIDS IN THE '60'S WHO MADE THE PILGRIMAGE UPSTAIRS KNEW MUCH ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY HAD COME TO, OR WHO HAD BEEN HERE BEFORE THEM.
THE MUSIC WAS THE STORY UP HERE.
AND THAT STORY... WELL, IT'S BEEN TOLD.
♪♪ ( Traffic Sounds ) Narrator: OUR STORY HAPPENS HERE TOO...
BUT IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO FIND.
YOU SEE, IT'S DOWN HERE ON STREET LEVEL.
Reie Pettus: WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOWN HERE, REDEVELOPMENT HAD COME THROUGH, AND ALL THIS WHOLE AREA WAS BLIGHTED.
THEY JUST TORE DOWN ALL THE BUILDINGS AND THIS WAS ALL EMPTY.
( Barbershop Noises ) Reggie Pettus: A LONG TIME AGO, IT USED TO BE, YEARS AND YEARS BACK, WE USED TO CALL IT THE FILLMORE.
AND THEN I CALLED IT THE NO-MORE.
( Laughs ) Narrator: LONG BEFORE JANIS AND JIMI AND THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE PLAYED UPSTAIRS, THIS WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD MEANT SOMETHING... TO SOME PEOPLE ANYWAY.
IT WAS MORE THAN A DISTRICT.
( ♪ Jazz Music ♪ ) IT WAS A WORLD.
THE FILLMORE WAS BLACK.
AND THAT PART THAT WASN'T BLACK WAS JAPANESE.
AND YOU WALKED THE STREETS LOOKING FOR PARTIES.
AND IT WAS THE WAY THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WROTE ABOUT THE RENAISSANCE IN HARLEM.
THAT WAS WHAT FILLMORE STREET WAS LIKE IN THOSE DAYS.
WE USED TO HAVE RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
AFRO-AMERICAN HOTELS DOWN HERE, CLUBS, OH MAN, YES, EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS WAS A CENTRALIZED AREA, AS I SAID BEFORE.
REDEVELOPMENT CAME IN AND JUST WIPED IT ALL OUT.
♪♪ ( Eerie Sounding Music ) Narrator: IT'S A STRANGE THING ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
TIME AND AGAIN, PEOPLE IN THE FILLMORE HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY HAD TO LEAVE...
IT WAS ALWAYS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD, ( Crashing Sounds ) ALWAYS FOR THE SAKE OF A BETTER TOMORROW.
WELL, TOMORROW HAS COME, AND IT IS TIME TO TAKE STOCK, BECAUSE GETTING HERE HAS BEEN ONE HELL OF A RIDE.
Reggie Pettus: THINGS ARE KIND OF PICKING UP A LITTLE BIT.
BUT, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AS FAR AS OUR BUSINESS IS CONCERNED, WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH COLOR DOWN HERE, YOU SEE, MY COLOR ANYWAY.
Narrator: THAT'S OUR STORY.
IT'S THE ONE NOBODY LIKES TO TELL... ABOUT THE PRETTIEST LITTLE CITY IN THE WORLD.
FUNDING FOR THE FILLMORE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) NEIGHBORHOODS ( ♪ ) THEY PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY ( ♪ ) A SOURCE OF SUPPORT ( ♪ ) A PLACE TO CALL HOME ( ♪ ) THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD A PART OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ( ♪ ) D THE CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE ( ♪ ) ( ♪ ) SINCE 1864 ( ♪ ) ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY ON MUCH ABOUT THIS PLACE, EVEN WHAT TO CALL IT: THE FILLMORE.
THE WESTERN ADDITION.
THE FILLMORE.
LOWER PACIFIC HEIGHTS.
JAPANTOWN.
J-TOWN.
NIHONMACHI THE WESTERN ADDITION.
THE WESTERN ADDITION.
THE FILLMORE.
JUST PLAIN OLD FILLMORE, OKAY?
( ♪ ) Narrator: IT'S THE MUDDLE IN THE MIDDLE.
A 4-SQUARE MILE LEVEL PATCH, JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S WHAT EARNED IT ITS ORIGINAL NAME: THE WESTERN ADDITION.
BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING PEOPLE DO AGREE ON, IT'S THAT FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SAN FRANCISCO'S LITTLE UNITED NATIONS.
NOT BY DESIGN, BUT BY AN ACT OF GOD.
(♪ Music Continues ♪ ) Narrator: THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF APRIL, 1906, LEFT THE CITY IN RUINS, AND THE RESULTING FIRE BURNED FOR THREE DAYS.
Narrator: REFUGEE CAMPS SPRANG UP IN PARKS BORDERING ONE OF THE FEW NEIGHBORHOODS LEFT UNSCATHED: THE WESTERN ADDITION.
ROW UPON ROW OF STATELY VICTORIANS STOOD UNTOUCHED BY THE DEVASTATION.
BUILT TO HOUSE ONE OR TWO FAMILIES, THEY WERE QUICKLY SUBDIVIDED INTO BOARDING HOUSES FOR THE NEW RESIDENTS POURING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT HAD ONCE BEEN A BEDROOM COMMUNITY, WAS SUDDENLY CITY CENTER.
WITHIN DAYS OF THE EARTHQUAKE, CITY HALL, NOW IN RUINS, RELOCATED TO THE CLOSEST THOROUGHFARE LEFT INTACT-- FILLMORE STREET.
( Bell Clinking ) Narrator: THE FIRST STREETCAR TO RESUME OPERATIONS RAN ALONG FILLMORE.
SOON, SAN FRANCISCO'S FINEST SHOPS WERE SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON THEBUSTLING STREETS OF THE WESTERN ADDITION.
Jerry Flamm: AT THE BEGINNING, THE FILLMORE MERCHANTS THAT SETTLED IN THERE, HAD VISIONS OF FILLMORE STREET REPLACING MARKET STREET AS THE MAIN STREET.
AND FOR A FEW YEARS, ( Horses Clunking ) FILLMORE WAS THE MAIN STREET OF SAN FRANCISCO.
Narrator: THE MERCHANTS ALONG FILLMORE CHIPPED IN TO BUILD A SET OF 14 ARCHES STRETCHING MORE THAN A MILE.
Lloyd Federlein: ON EACH CORNER, THERE'S FOUR ARCHES COVERING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER.
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS LIT UP EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, WHITE LIGHTS.
THE BIG LIGHTS WERE BEAMING ALL OVER THE PLACE, JUST A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
Narrator: FILLMORE STREET WOULD BECOME THE MEETING GROUND FOR SOME 50,000 RESIDENTS WHO FOUND THEMSELVES DRAWN TOGETHER INTO ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COUNTRY.
( ♪ Jewish Music ♪ ) Jerry Flamm: WAS ABOUT THE CLOSEST YEAR TO A LARGE JEWISH NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SAN FRANCISCO EVER HAD.
WE HAD THREE SYNAGOGUES.
WE HAD A CLUSTER OF JEWISH RESTAURANTS.
WE HAD JEWISH MERCHANTS.
YOU KNEW THE BUTCHER.
YOUR MOTHER WOULD GO INTO THE BUTCHER SHOP AND SAY, "HELLO, DAVE DARLING."
( ♪ Violin Music ♪ ) Jerry Flamm: 1043 STEINER, WHERE YEHUDI MENUHIN'S FAMILY LIVED.
YOU COULD POSSIBLY HEAR EITHER YEHUDI PRACTICING THE VIOLIN, OR YOU COULD HEAR YALTA OR HEPHZIBAH, HIS SISTERS PRACTICING THE PIANO.
( ♪ Violin Music Continues ♪ ) WE HAD DIFFERENT ETHNIC MIXES.
AND THAT WAS REFLECTED IN THE MAKE-UP OF MY SCHOOL CLASSES.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RACIAL PROBLEMS SOMEHOW.
WE HAD IRISH.
WE HAD RUSSIANS Albert Broussard: WE HAD WHITE CHILDREN, CHINESE CHILDREN, JAPANESE CHILDREN.
WE HAD THE COLORED POPULATION, ALTHOUGH WE WERE SMALL IN NUMBER.
I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS A BLACK COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD VERY FEW IN SCHOOL.
YOU COULD WALK DOWN MARKET STREET AT THAT TIME, AND THE ONLY BLACK PERSON YOU'D SEE IS LOOKIN' IN THOSE PLATE GLASS WINDOWS, YOU'D SEE YOUR OWN REFLECTION.
Narrator: FEWER THAN 1% OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS WERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
BUT THOSE WHO WERE, MIGRATED INTO THE WESTERN ADDITION, ALONGSIDE THE FILIPINOS, THE JEWS, THE MEXICANS.
NOT THAT SAN FRANCISCO WAS COLOR-BLIND.
FAR FROM IT.
MANY MINORITIES HAD A HARD TIME FINDING ANY PLACE TO LIVE.
BUT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR A LONG WHILE, RACE DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER MUCH.
Lloyd Federlein: EAST OF FILLMORE STREET WAS A JAPANESE SETTLEMENT.
Hatsuro Aizawa: THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 5,000 OR 6,000 JAPANESE-AMERICANS LIVING WITHIN THIS AREA.
Lloyd Federlein: YOU'D PASS THEM ON THE STREET.
THEY'D BOW DOWN TO YOU, GREET YOU.
I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT THAT WHEN YOU MET A FIRST GENERATION, THE OLDER PEOPLE, YOU WOULD ALWAYS BOW.
"KONICHIWA" (Hello), HA-HA.
Narrator: DORIS MORIMOTO SPENT HER CHILDHOOD ON FILLMORE STREET.
HER PARENTS, BOTH BORN IN JAPAN, OPERATED A DRY CLEANING STORE, AND THE FAMILY LIVED UPSTAIRS IN A RENTED FLAT.
THE MORIMOTO FAMILY, FOUR GENERATIONS, HAS BEEN IN THE SAME HOUSE ON FILLMORE STREET SINCE 1917, ON THE EDGE OF WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS "NIHONMACHI"-- JAPANTOWN.
Doris Morimoto: MY PARENTS DIDN'T WANT US TO FORGET THAT WE WERE JAPANESE, AND SO FOR US TO LEARN JAPANESE CUSTOM, BECAUSE AMERICAN CUSTOM, YOU CAN PICK IT UP.
BUT JAPANESE CUSTOM, THE REAL "NITTY GRITTY"-- HA HA!
YOU HAVE TO LEARN IT FROM THEM.
Hatsuro Aizawa: MY FATHER HAD THIS BOOK STORE THAT SOLD NOTHING BUT JAPANESE BOOKS.
EVERYBODY GATHERED THERE AND PLAYED CARDS OR READ BOOKS.
WE WERE ALWAYS POOR BECAUSE NOBODY BOUGHT ANY BOOKS.
THEY JUST STOOD THERE AND READ THE BOOKS AND WENT HOME.
IT WAS KIND OF AN ISOLATED COMMUNITY.
WE DID HAVE A BARRIER, OR AN INVISIBLE WALL, THAT WE ALWAYS SEEMED TO STAY WITHIN.
WE HAD OUR REGULAR HOT DOG OR HAMBURGER SHOPS.
NOTHING WAS DIFFERENT OTHER THAN AMERICAN KIDS, BUT WE WERE ALL ASIAN KIDS.
Steve Nakajo: IT'S A PHENOMENON HOW AN ETHNIC COMMUNITY COMES INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKES IT ALL OF A SUDDEN A "NIHONMACHI" A J-TOWN.
YOU KNOW, SHOE STORE, CANDY STORE, DRUG STORE, CHURCHES, AND GIRL SCOUTS, AND, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG NISEIS (2-Year Olds) IN TERMS OF SPORTS.
THE ENVIRONMENT FOR ASIAN JAPANESE-AMERICANS WAS NOT THE MOST WELCOME, YOU KNOW, ATMOSPHERE FOR THESE FOLKS, YOU KNOW.
IT'S AMAZING THAT WITHIN THAT, TO ME, IS THIS SOUL...
SUCH A STRONG DESIRE TO ADOPT THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS AMERICA IS GOOD.
( ♪ Bombs Exploding ♪ ) Sandy Morimoto Dineen: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT IT?
WHAT KIND OF NOTIFICATION DID YOU GET?
YOU MEAN, UH-HUH.
FOR US TO MOVE?
TO RELOCATE, THAT WAR HAD BROKEN OUT.
HMM, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF IT.
(Laughs) WELL, I THINK HISTORICALLY WHAT HAPPENED I REALLY DON'T.
WAS...
I PUT IT ALL IN BACK OF ME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO REMEMBER IT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER, WAR?
NO.
IT'S A PERIOD WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO WASH AWAY FROM OUR MEIORY.
THAT'S THE REASON I DON'T RECALL TOO MUCH OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
I MEAN, NOT CAN'T RECALL, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WAND TO REMEMBE, I GUESS.
Earl Watkins: WHEN PEARL HARBOR HIT, I CAN REMEMBER THE JAPANESE PEOPLE.
THEY REALLY STUCK CLOSE.
AND YOU'D VERY SELDOM SEE THEM ON THE STREET.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RESENTMENT.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO PRESIDIO.
( Chump, Chump ) AND WE WERE DOING ALL THE CLEANING OF THE UNIFORMS.
( Chump, Chump ) THE PEOPLE GOING BY, SEEING ALL THE UNIFORMS, BROUGHT IN, TAKEN OUT-- THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, AND WE WERE CALLED "DIRTY JAPS."
YEP.
I REMEMBER THAT SO DISTINCTLY.
PERSONALLY, I HAD HIGH REGARD FOR THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY THAT EXISTED IN THE OLD FILLMORE AREA, BECAUSE THEY WERE INDUSTRIOUS.
THEY WERE CLEAN.
THEY WERE HONORABLE.
AND IF YOU DID BUSINESS WITH THEM, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID THAT YOU'D BE MISLED.
BUT THERE WAS SOME APPREHENSION, ( ♪ Somber Music ♪ ) AND THAT'S WHY, I THINK, PROMPTED ROOSEVELT TO MAKE THIS EVICTION NOTICE, AND TAKE THEM OVER TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
( ♪ Somber Music Continues ♪ ) Hatsuro Aizawa: I REMEMBER CLEANING UP ALL THOSE BOOKS AND, GET READY FOR EVACUATION.
EVERYTHING HAD TO GO.
WE DON'T KNOW JAPAN.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN THERE.
DEEP INSIDE, YOU KNOW.
IT'S JUST AS MUCH OUR COUNTRY AS ANYBODY ELSE.
( ♪ Somber Music ♪ ) Doris Morimoto: WE HAD TO SELL THE STORE, OUR TRUCK, SELL EVERYTHING, LEAVE EVERYTHING, AND LEAVE SAN FRANCISCO.
AND SO WE SOLD IT FOR $400.
EVERYTHING WE HAD FOR $400.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: I REMEMBER THE AWFUL FEELING WHEN THEY DISAPPEARED.
IT WAS AS IF IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.
NOW, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY, THEIR PRIDE AND THEY INTERNALIZE MOST THINGS, THEY KNEW-- THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN SHORT NOTICE-- BUT THEY KNEW, BUT NOBODY TOLD US.
IT'S JUST ONE DAY THEY WERE THERE, AND THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE GONE.
( ♪ ) ( Woo-Woo ) ( Whish ) Train Conductor: ALL ABOARD!
( ♪ Jazzy Music ♪ ) ( ♪ ) Albert Broussard: AS THE JAPANESE MOVED OUT, AFRICAN-AMERICANS MOVED IN IMMEDIATELY INTO THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY.
( Choo Choo ) ♪ MEAN OLD FRISCO, ♪ ( Woo Woo ) ♪ TAKE MY PAIN AWAY.
♪ Dr. Daniel Collins: I ARRIVED HERE OCTOBER THE 16TH, 1942.
AND THE TRAIN WAS LOADED WITH PEOPLE WITH PAPER BAGS AND CARDBOARD BOXES AND ONE-WAY TICKETS TO CALIFORNIA.
THEY WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING OUT TO MAN THE WAR INDUSTRY.
Albert Broussard: THEY WERE COMING FROM LOUISIANA IN LARGE NUMBERS.
THEY WERE COMING FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY WERE COMING FROM ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
Carol O'Gilvie: MY AUNT CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO IN 1943, AND SHE WENT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY IN THE DEFENSE PLANTS.
SHE CAME IN JUNE.
HER HUSBAND CAME IN AUGUST.
AND HER MOTHER'S SISTER CAME.
( Jazz Music ) ♪ ...WHILE THE TRAIN GOES AROUND THE BEND...♪ Albert Broussard: WE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE POURING INTO THE CITY EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
AND YOU HAD THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS POURING INTO THE CITY EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
Thomas Fleming: AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE PAYING GOOD WAGES, AND THAT WAS BETTER THAN WORKING FOR $5 A WEEK AS A BLACK WOMEN WERE WORKING.
AND THE MEN, VERY FEW OF THEM WERE MAKING OVER $100 A MONTH.
Albert Broussard: THIS MIGRATION IS TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF 12 YEARS OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION.
AND SO IT REALLY DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO GET PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THE SHIPYARDS WOULD BE PAYING EXTREMELY HIGH WAGES.
( Black Singer ) ♪ SAN FRANCISCO...♪ ♪ PLEASE MAKE ROOM FOR ME.
♪ Dr. Daniel Collins: APARTMENTS WERE REALLY HARD TO COME BY.
BLACKS MOVED INTO THE BUILDINGS, INTO THE ROOMS, INTO THE APARTMENTS THAT JAPANESE LEFT.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: YOU HAD NO CHOICE.
THE REAL ESTATE INTERESTS WOULD SHOW YOU PROPERTIES AND RENTALS IN THAT AREA.
AND ONLY IN THAT AREA.
Dr. Daniel Collins: YOU WERE NOT WELCOME ANYWHERE ELSE.
♪ ...FILLMORE STREET IS THE PLACE TO BE...♪ Albert Broussard: THEY QUICKLY OVER EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE HOUSING.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS, INTERESTINGLY, IS THE 4-5 BLOCK AREA WHICH HAD BEEN THE HUB OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY BEGINS TO EXPAND.
Earl Watkins: THERE WAS A PREMIUM ON HOUSING.
PEOPLE DOUBLED UP, TRIPLED UP.
ANY SPACE THAT YOU COULD TURN INTO A SLEEPING AREA, THEY DID THAT.
I'VE READ STORIES OF PEOPLE LITERALLY SLEEPING IN SHIFTS IN APARTMENTS, BUYING OR RENTING BEDS IN SHIFTS FOR 8 HOURS.
Dr. Daniel Collins: I KNOW ONE GUY WHO RENTED AN ARMOIRE.
IT WAS A LIVING SPACE FOR A GUY.
HE RENTED AN ARMOIRE.
YES!
( Off Microphone ) A PIECE OF FURNITURE?
YES, BUT BIG ENOUGH FOR A GUY TO HAVE A DRAWER AND HANG HIS CLOTHES UP IN.
THERE WAS A BIG DRAWER IN IT, WELL, ANYWAY... Carol O'Gilvie: THERE WAS A SECTION IN THE KITCHEN FOR EVERY SINGLE COUPLE, AND THEY WOULD COOK AT DIFFERENT TIMES, OR THEY WOULD SERVE THEIR MEALS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
Thomas Fleming: FILLMORE STREET WAS CROWDED BECAUSE OF THE THREE SHIFTS OF WAR WORKERS.
Dr. Daniel Collins: SO YOU COULD WALK, IN THE MIDDLE OF FILLMORE STREET WITH $100 JUST HANGING OUT OF YOUR POCKET AND NOBODY WOULD TOUCH YOU BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS MAKING MONEY!
( Song Continues ) ♪ ...YOU CAN DO AS YOU PLEASE...♪ Albert Broussard: BLACK MIGRANTS DON'T GENERALLY CHECK THEIR CULTURE AT THE RAILROAD STATION.
THEY BRING IT WITH THEM.
Carol O'Gilvie: THEY CAME WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.
MY UNCLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS A CARPENTER.
ONE WAS A MECHANIC.
MY UNCLE'S BROTHER, WAS A BARBER.
ON SATURDAY MORNINGS, THEY'D LINE UP GETTING THEIR HAIR CUT.
THEN ON SUNDAY, AFTER CHURCH, PEOPLE CAME TO VISIT, TO SEE IF THEY HAD HEARD FROM HOME.
IT WAS A SOCIAL PLACE.
THEY WERE BUILDING COMMUNITY.
( Spiritual Song ) ♪ BURN IT DOWN LORD, BURN IT DOWN...♪ Albert Broussard: YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BLACK CHURCHES IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Dr. Daniel Collins: THE MAIN ORGANIZATION FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS THE CHURCH.
ANYBODY WHO OVERLOOKS IT MAKES A BAD MISTAKE.
IT'S A VERY POWERFUL, VERY POWERFUL FORCE.
( Song Continues ) ♪ GLORY...♪ Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: MY DAD WAS A MINISTER, AND HE BOUGHT A CHURCH WHICH HAD BEEN VACATED BY THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD SEAT ABOUT 1,200 PEOPLE.
HE HAD LESS THAN 100 MEMBERS.
BUT BETWEEN '42 AND '43, THE CONGREGATION EXPLODED FROM MAYBE 100 TO WELL OVER 1,000.
( ♪ Singing Continues ♪ ) Narrator: BY 1945, SOME 30,000 AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THE WORKFORCE THAT HAD ARRIVED SO SUDDENLY WAS STARTING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAD MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAR, AND THAT THE FILLMORE WAS BECOMING THEIR OWN.
( Masses of People Cheering ) Announcer: THE GREATEST, WILDEST CELEBRATION OF THEM ALL WAS IN NEW YORK'S TIME SQUARE.
NEVER BEFORE OR SINCE HAS THERE BEEN A CROWD LIKE THIS ON THE GREAT WHITE WAY.
TWO MILLION PEOPLE SCREAMED THEIR ELATION AT THE END OF THE MOST DEVASTATING WAR IN RECORDED HISTORY.
( ♪ Japanese Music ♪ ) Doris Morimoto: I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE.
I JUST WANTED TO GET BACK, TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND LIVE IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD I KNOW IS FILLMORE STREET.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) THE ONLY PLACE I FEEL COMFORTABLE.
AND THAT WAS A NICE FEELING, FEELING THAT THE WAR WAS OVER.
Sandy Morimoto Dineen: THEY ARE FORGETTING THAT PART OF THEIR LIFE, THAT IT SO-CALLED "DIDN'T EXIST."
AND SO THEY COULD START ALL OVER AGAIN, BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THEY LEFT.
Narrator: RETURNING TO THE FILLMORE DISTRICT WASN'T EASY.
THE OLD DRY CLEANING SHOP HAD BEEN TURNED INTO A WAREHOUSE.
UPSTAIRS, THEIR BELOVED HOME WAS OCCUPIED BY STRANGERS.
BUT THROUGH PERSISTENCE, AND A BIT OF LUCK, THE MORIMOTO FAMILY DID WHAT MANY COMING OUT OF THE CAMPS COULD NOT: THEY RETURNED TO THE HOME THEY LEFT...AND STAYED.
Doris Morimoto: WE PAID ONLY $10,000 FOR THIS BUILDING.
AND WE BOUGHT IT.
AND MY HUSBAND, EVERY NIGHT AFTER WORK, AFTER DINNER, AND ON SUNDAYS, PUT THIS HARDWOOD FLOOR IN.
SO I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THIS HOUSE.
Sandy Morimoto Dineen: THEY ALWAYS SAID, IT'S TO BE KEPT SO THAT EACH ONE OR ANYONE IN THE FAMILY HAS A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
THIS HOUSE IS GOING TO STAY HERE.
IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
IT'S SURVIVED HOW MANY EARTHQUAKES?
( Laughs ) IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
I THINK THAT PRESENTS KIND OF A SYMBOLIC WAY OF MY GRANDMOTHER, YOU KNOW.
I DON'T FIND HER GOING ANYWHERE FOR A LONG TIME.
( Amy and Sandy Laugh ) ( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) Narrator: BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE MORIMOTOS RETURNED TO WAS FAR DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE THEY LEFT.
FILLMORE STREET'S FAMED ARCHES HAD BEEN MELTED DOWN FOR SCRAP IRON DURING THE WAR.
THE OLD VICTORIANS WERE STRAINED TO THE BREAKING POINT FROM OVERCROWDING.
Narrator: TO TOP IT OFF, MANY OF ITS NEW RESIDENTS WERE SUDDENLY OUT OF WORK.
Albert Broussard: THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF BLACKS, AS THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT DEFENSE INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT, COULD NOT FIND COMPARABLE EMPLOYMENT IN TERMS OF WAGES; AND IN MANY CASES, COULD NOT FIND EMPLOYMENT AT ALL.
THIS IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS FELT THAT THESE MIGRANTS WOULD RETURN HOME.
I MET THE MAYOR AND HE PULLED ME ASIDE.
HE SAID, "MR. FLEMING, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THESE COLORED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HERE?"
AND I SAID, "MR. MAYOR, YOU KNOW HOW PERMANENT THE GOLDEN GATE IS OUT THERE?"
HE SAID, "YES."
WELL I SAID, "THE BLACK POPULATION IS JUST AS PERMANENT," I SAID, "BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED A PASSPORT TO COME IN HERE, WE'RE AMERICAN CITIZENS."
Narrator: BUT EVEN AS BLACKS WERE SETTLING IN, OTHERS THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE THE FILLMORE BEHIND.
Jerry Flamm: IT BECAME MORE FASHIONABLE TO MOVE TO OTHER AREAS.
THERE WERE HUGE TRACKS OF LAND THAT WERE BEING CONVERTED INTO DEVELOPMENTS.
AFTER ALL, THE HOUSES IN THE WESTERN ADDITION WERE OLD HOUSES, AND THE PLUMBING, IT HAD BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE.
Lloyd Federlein: A LOT OF OF THE SHOPS KIND OF CLOSED UP, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STORES DOWN THERE BECAUSE, THEY JUST DIDN'T...
THE WHITE PEOPLE WERE MOVING OUT, AND THERE WAS NOBODY LEFT THERE.
Narrator: THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE, OF COURSE.
SAN FRANCISCO'S FIRST LARGE BLACK COMMUNITY.
BUT THERE THEY WERE, ALONG WITH THE OLD HOUSES, AND THE BAD PLUMBING, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT.
NEWSPAPERS STARTED CALLING THE FILLMORE A SLUM, AND A CRY WAS HEARD THAT ECHOED ACROSS POST-WAR AMERICA: FIX OUR CITY!
THE ANSWER CAME IN TWO PROMISING WORDS: ( Crashes ) URBAN RENEWAL.
Newscaster: THE SENATE BANKING AND CURRENCY COMMITTEE REPORTS OUT THE HOUSING ACT OF 1949, PROVIDING FOR SLUM CLEARANCE AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 810,000 NEW, LOW-RENT HOUSING UNITS BY 1955.
Narrator: WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN, THERE WAS MONEY TO REBUILD CITIES.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CITY PLANNERS DREW A BIG RED BOX AROUND THE WESTERN ADDITION, AND CALLED IT PRIORITY #1.
THEY EVEN WROTE A BROCHURE.
Announcer: "THE NEW SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNED FOR BETTER LIVING, REPLACES THE DILAPIDATION AND DISORDER OF MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.
GONE ARE THE DISREPUTABLE JOINTS, THE SO-CALLED SMOKE SHOPS, THE "HOTELS" AND POOL HALL HANGOUTS KNOWN TO THE POLICE.
THE FUTURE OF THIS ONCE VALUABLE PROPERTY UNTIL THE OLD STRUCTURES CAN BE SCRAPPED, AND ATTRACTIVE NEW BUILDINGS, ADAPTED TO MODERN NEEDS, CAN BE BUILT ON THE LAND."
Narrator: THE FILLMORE WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS IN THE WEST, AFFECTING NEARLY 20,000 RESIDENTS OVER 2 SQUARE MILES.
BUT AT ITS BEGINNINGS, NOBODY COULD POSSIBLY KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE WESTERN ADDITION.
SOME OF THEM WERE WORRIED.
CARLTON GOODLET, A PHYSICIAN AND NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER, WAS EMERGING AS OKESMAN FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY.
HE ARGUED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT INTO THE CITY'S PLANS.
"EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT MINORITIES," HE SAID, "THAT IF WE DON'T START OUT RIGHT, WE MIGHT NOT END UP RIGHT."
THERE WAS CERTAINLY AWARENESS THAT THERE WERE SLUMS OR BLIGHTED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE WESTERN ADDITION.
BLACK LEADERS DO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE IS NO SENSE OF HOW THE CONCEPT IS REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN CONCEPTUALIZE WHAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO MEAN DOWN THE ROAD.
Narrator: DOWN THE ROAD WAS A LONG WAY AWAY, BECAUSE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, PLANS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD STAGNATED IN A MIRE OF POLITICS, AND PAPER SHUFFLING.
IT WOULD BE A CRUCIAL DELAY--- BECAUSE IN THAT TIME, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOSSED TOGETHER BY THE WAR, WOULD START, TENDERLY AT FIRST, TO PUT DOWN ROOTS.
( ♪ Swing Music ♪ ) Charles Collins: I WAS BORN IN 1947 IN A COMMUNITY CALLED "THE FILLMORE."
Sugar Pie De Santo: JUST PLAIN O' FILLMORE, OKAY?
WE DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING.
BUT WE WERE HAPPY.
Albert Broussard: I LOVED THE FILLMORE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I RECALL IS KNOWING SO MANY PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE COMMUNITY.
Charles Collins: THE HOUSES WERE BEAUTIFUL.
Willie Brown, Jr: THEY LOOKED LIKE GINGERBREAD HOUSES TO ME AT THE TIME.
YOU CAN IMAGINE A LITTLE KID FROM A PLACE LIKE MINEOLA SEEING THESE INCREDIBLE STRUCTURES.
Carol O'Gilvie: THE ORNAMENTS AROUND THE CEILING AND THE DOORS, AND ON THE POST AS YOU ENTERED THE BUILDING.
COMING HERE, I FELT LIKE WE WERE IN ANOTHER WORLD.
( ♪ Jazz Music, Piano Solo ♪ ) Sugar Pie De Santo: WE'D SIT ON MY FRONT STAIRS, YOU KNOW, AND SING, AND WALK DOWN THE STREET SINGING, SINGING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.
WE WERE SINGING EVERYWHERE.
♪ JUST A FEW LITTLE WORDS IS ALL I WANT TO HEAR ♪ Steve Nakajo: YOU WALKED DOWN, IN DIFFERENT DOORWAYS, YOU STARTED TO HEAR "DO-WOP!"
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, THESE GUYS ARE IN THERE, MAN, AND THEY'RE SINGING IN THIS DOORWAY BECAUSE THE MARBLE FLOOR GIVES A BIT OF A SOUND EFFECT OFF OF THE WOOD WALL, AND, MAN, THEY'RE CUTTING IT UP.
( ♪ Swing Music with Horns ♪ ) Willie Brown, Jr: TO SEE THE ARRAY OF MOVIE THEATERS ALL WITHIN FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER, THE UPTOWN, THE TEMPLE.
Sugar Pie de Santo: JUST BLOCKS AND BLOCKS OF NOTHING BUT NICE STORES.
Steve Nakajo: THERE WAS A ROLLER SKATING RINK.
THERE WAS A BOWLING ALLEY.
I STILL RECALL WHITES WHO WOULD NEVER COME DOWN TO THE FILLMORE DISTRICT, COMING DOWN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT TO BUY BARBECUE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
I STARTED TO LIKE IT.
I STARTED TO DIG IT.
Earl Watkins: THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF RESTAURANTS, CLEANING SHOPS, AND NATURALLY, NIGHT CLUBS AND BARS.
( ♪ Different Jazz Music ♪ ) Willie Brown, Jr THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HOTEL HAD A CELEBRITY ROOM.
Earl Watkins: ELLA FITZGERALD APPEARED THERE.
Sugar Pie De Santo: ALL THE GREATS CAME THERE.
LOU RAWLS WAS NOT A STAR THEN, BUT HE WAS PERFORMING THERE.
DINAH WASHINGTON WOULD SHOW UP THERE, AND CARMEN MacRAE.
FILLMORE STREET, IT SORT OF LIKE BECAME SWING STREET.
JACK'S ON SUTTER WAS MORE JAZZY.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU MIGHT SEE THELONIOUS MONK SITTING THERE, JUST HAVING A TEA OR WHATEVER.
Earl Watkins: THERE WERE CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THEY HAD BARS AND RESTAURANTS WHERE THEY WOULDN'T SERVE YOU.
AND WE WERE AWARE OF THAT, THOSE OF US WHO LIVED AROUND HERE.
SO WE JUST DIDN'T GO TO THOSE PLACES.
Earl Watkins: WE WERE LIMITED TO THE WESTERN ADDITION, TO THE FILLMORE DISTRICT.
THEY DIDN'T HIRE YOU EAST OF VAN NESS AVENUE.
Thomas Fleming: THERE WERE HUSTLERS OUT THERE SELLING HALF PINTS AND PINTS, OR WHATEVER AMOUNT OF BOOZE YOU WANTED.
Willie Brown, Jr: YOUR GAMBLING WOULD START LIKE 5 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY, AND IT WOULD GO 24 HOURS A DAY.
YOU ONLY HANDLED CASH.
AND EVERY MONDAY MY UNCLE WOULD HAVE A BAG OF MONEY THAT HE WOULD TAKE TO THE BANK, HAVING EARNED IT, UNLESS HE GOT DRUNK AND GOT INTO A GAME HIMSELF, AND STARTED PLAYING OUT OF THE BAG.
( Etta James Singing ) ♪ AT LAST...♪ Willie Brown, Jr: PEOPLE WOULD GET DRESSED, I MEAN, LIKE TO KILL.
STACY ADAMS SHOES WITH THE WHITE STRING SHOWN THAT HAD BEEN HIGHLY CLEANED UP WITH CLOROX TO MAKE SURE THE STRINGS AND THE STITCHES COULD BE SHOWN.
VERY WELL POLISHED.
YOU WOULD SEE GREAT DIAMOND STICK PINS.
YOU WOULD SEE SATIN TIES, LONGCOATS.
YOU'D SEE GREAT LOOKING JEWELRY ON THE WOMEN, FUR COATS.
THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
(♪ OH YEAH...AT LAST ♪ ) THEY WERE ON THE PEOPLE IN THE FILLMORE.
Sugar Pie De Santo: THAT WAS THE BEST DAYS, YOU KNOW.
WE JUST HAD ALL KINDS OF CLUBS AND ALL KINDS OF NICE RESTAURANTS.
OUR JAZZ SCENE... THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY DEVELOPED.
( ♪ Jazz Music ♪ ) Earl Watkins: MUSICIANS WOULD COME TO TOWN.
THEY WOULD SAY, "WELL, WHAT'S DOING?"
I'D SAY, "WELL, WHEN I GET THROUGH WORK, COME ON.
WE'LL GO DOWN TO BOP CITY."
SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, IN THE HEART OF J-TOWN, IS THIS JAZZ CLUB CALLED, "BOP CITY," AND IT DOESN'T COME ALIVE UNTIL AFTER 2 AM.
I WENT TO BOP CITY MOST EVERY WEEKEND, WHETHER I WAS WORKING THERE OR NOT.
IF I WAS WORKING IN BRISBANE, I'D GET A RIDE BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AND I'D GO THERE ON A FRIDAY, SATURDAY.
Earl Watkins: AND YOU NEVER KNEW WHO YOU WOULD SEE ON THE BANDSTAND.
I'VE GONE IN THERE ON NIGHTS WHEN OSCAR PETERSON WAS PLAYING, ERROLL GARNER WAS PLAYING, BILLIE HOLIDAY WAS SINGING.
Steve Nakajo: SO IF YOU WERE REALLY HIP IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU'D TRY TO SNEAK OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AND STAND UNDERNEATH JIMBO'S AT ABOUT 2 AM, AND BE ABLE TO HEAR ALL THE JAZZ THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CLUB UNTIL 6 A.M., AND THEN EVERYBODY LEFT AND THEY WENT TO DO THEIR THING.
John Handy: YOU'D GO THERE WITH YOUR MUSICAL BOXING GLOVES ON, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO.
Earl Watkins: BECAUSE PRACTICALLY EVERY BAND, THEY'D HAVE SOME YOUNG HOTSHOTS WHO'D WANT TO PLAY, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THEIR REGULAR PERFORMANCE, IT'S SORT OF STRUCTURED.
AND SO THEY'D GET A CHANCE TO STRETCH OUT.
John Handy: I WAS PLAYING MANY TIMES WITH MY HEROES.
RIGHT AWAY, THAT WAS WHAT WAS BLOWING MY MIND-- IS I NEVER KNEW WHO I WAS GOING TO PLAY WITH.
( ♪ Jazz Music ♪ ) AND I GOT TO KNOW AND PLAY WITH PEOPLE LIKE PAUL GONZALVES, OUT OF DUKE'S BAND.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON WHO PLAYED SO MUCH SAXOPHONE I ACTUALLY FELT HE, SWALLOWED IT THAT NIGHT.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) HE JUST ABSOLUTELY KILLED ME.
YOU KNOW, I'D NEVER HEARD ANYBODY PLAY LIKE THAT, ON THAT LEVEL.
I WAS 17.
AND THEN, THERE WAS MY INPUT.
IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO PLAY.
( ♪ Saxophone Solo ♪ ) THERE WERE THESE THRILLS THAT WERE UNSPEAKABLE THRILLS.
IT'S LIKE IF PEOPLE LOVE ART, AND THEY LOVE MUSIC, THINK OF WHAT IT DOES TO THE ARTIST.
IT'S UNUTTERABLE.
( ♪ Sax Solo Continues ♪ ) Earl Watkins: THIS JAZZ, THE FILLMORE JAZZ, HAD A WAY OF BRINGING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER.
John Handy: THAT'S WHAT YOU LEARN.
THAT'S THE PART ABOUT IT THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS VITAL.
I COULD SEE SAN FRANCISCO AS AN OASIS OF MUSIC.
Albert Broussard: THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF PRIDE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHERE MOST OF THE BLACK BUSINESSES, WHERE MOST OF THE BLACK PROFESSIONALS LIVED AND OPERATED.
I MEAN, THIS WAS THEIR COMMUNITY.
HARLEM.
THIS HAD TO BE THE CLOSEST THING TO HARLEM.
IT FELT GOOD.
AND IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT TIME.
( ♪ Music Slowly Ends ♪ ) Narrator: BY THE LATE '50'S, THE FILLMORE, FOR JAZZ LOVERS AT LEAST, WAS ON THE MAP.
BUT IN MAYOR GEORGE CHRISTOPHER'S OFFICE, IT WAS ON A VERY DIFFERENT MAP.
George Christopher: HOW LONG CAN YOU CONDONE A SLUM AREA?
THE FILLMORE AREA WAS JUST DILAPIDATED, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE IT GO FOR ANOTHER 2 OR 3 YEARS, OR 4 YEARS, BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD BECOME AN AREA THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE.
( ♪ ) Narrator: IT HAD BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE THE AREA HAD BEEN TARGETED FOR RENEWAL.
AND THOUGH THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAD TAKEN LITTLE ACTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE LABEL OF SLUM HAD STUCK.
ONCE AN AGENCY COMES IN AND SAYS THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S BLIGHTED, WELL, IF YOU OWN A HOUSE OR ARE A LANDLORD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S BLIGHTED AND SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO KIND OF SIT AROUND AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Narrator: IN THE FILLMORE, SOME 90% OF THE BUILDINGS WERE NOW OWNED BY ABSENTEE LANDLORDS.
WITH NO INCENTIVES TO KEEP UP THE PROPERTIES, THEY WORE DOWN, ( Sirens ) WHILE CHRONIC UNDEREMPLOYMENT SENT THE CRIME RATE UP.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NIGHTLIFE...
BUT WORD ON THE STREET WAS THE FILLMORE WAS A "BAD" NEIGHBORHOOD.
Earl Watkins: MANY TIMES, THE CAB DRIVERS WOULD TRY TO DISCOURAGE TOURISTS FROM COMING OUT HERE.
THEY WOULD CLAIM THAT IT WAS A SLUM, AND YOU'D GET YOUR THROAT CUT IF YOU WENT OUT THERE.
Narrator: WHAT PEOPLE ALSO SAID, EIR UNDER BREATHS ANQWAY, WAS THAT IT WAS A "BLACK" NEIGHBORHOOD.
JUSTWHAT THAT MEANT THE CITY WAS ABOUT TO DEMONSTRATE.
IN ORDER TO GET FEDERAL MONEY FOR URBAN RENEWAL, CITY HALL HAD TO PROVE THERE WAS BLIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ASSIGNED PENALTY POINTS BASED ON CONDITIONS CONSIDERED UNDESIRABLE: DILAPIDATION, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, TUBERCULOSIS.
AND NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, NON-WHITE PULATION.
Charles Collins: I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE FELT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS EQUALED BLIGHT.
THE WESTERN ADDITION WAS TARGETED TO A LARGE EXTENT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VERY, VERY STRONG, VITAL, AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN DISCOUNT THE ISSUE OF RACE HERE.
WELL, I DON'T THINK URBAN RENEWAL WAS GOING TO GET RID OF JUST BLACKS IN CENTRAL CITY.
I THINK URBAN RENEWAL WAS TO GET RID OF ANYBODY IN THE WAY OF USING THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN FOR A HIGHER PURPOSE.
George Christopher: GOODNESS!
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY WHO EVER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE BLACKS, BECAUSE THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY.
I THINK THEY SAW LAND, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET LAND.
AND THEY HAD TO CLEAR THE LAND.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE LAND WAS TO USE THE TOOLS OF GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
Narrator: THE TOOLS OF GOVERNMENT WERE IN THE HANDS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
BUT IT WAS STILL MIRED IN BUREAUCRATIC BUNGLING.
ITS HARSHEST CRITIC WAS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BIGWIG.
JUSTIN HERMAN, AN URBAN PLANNER HIMSELF, WAS THE RANKING BUREAUCRAT SENT FROM WASHINGTON TO OVERSEE URBAN RENEWAL IN THE WEST.
HE HELD THE PURSE STRINGS FOR SAN FRANCISCO'S REDEVELOPMENT, AND HE WAS DISGUSTED WITH ITS STAGNATION.
HE FELT THAT THE CITY AT THAT TIME DID NOT HAVE STRONG PERSONNEL THAT KNEW WHAT THE PROGRAM ENTAILED.
SO ONE DAY I CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I SHOULD CALL HERMAN.
I SAID TO HIM, "THERE'S ONLY ONE SOLUTION FOR THIS MATTER."
HE SAID, "WHAT?"
I SAID, "YOU QUIT YOUR JOB WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND YOU WORK FOR THE CITY."
"OH, MY GOD!"
HE SAID.
"HOW CAN I DO THAT?"
I SAID, "IF YOU WORK FOR THE CITY AND YOU SOLVE THIS MATTER, WHICH I THINK YOU WILL, YOUR NAME WILL BE OF LASTING MOMENT IN OUR CITY, WHEREAS, NOW YOU'RE A LITTLE SECRETARY OF A LITTLE JOB IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHEN YOU GO, YOU'LL BE A FORGOTTEN ISSUE, WON'T YOU?"
TWO DAYS LATER, HE SAYS, "OKAY, I'LL TAKE THE JOB."
Narrator: JUSTIN HERMAN WOULD PRESIDE OVER SAN FRANCISCO'S REDEVELOPMENT FOR 12 YEARS.
BY THE END OF HIS TENURE, THE CITY WOULD BE TRANSFORMED, AND HE WOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF A WRENCHING CONTROVERSY OVER POWER, MONEY, AND RACE.
BUT AT THE OUTSET, HE EMBARKED ON A FERVENT MISSION: MAKING THE CITY BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: WELL, JUSTIN WAS QUITE A MAN, QUITE A MAN.
A MOST UNUSUAL FELLOW.
A VERY BRIGHT MAN, AND A DREAMER, A VISIONARY.
ONE OF THE TWO OR THREE BEST URBAN RENEWAL DIRECTORS IN THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, IN TERMS OF HIS ABILITY TO SEE THE VISION FOR WHAT RENEWAL COULD DO.
BUT HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE DOWNSIDE OF IT IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON PEOPLE.
HE WAS A LITTLE ON THE EGOTISTIC SIDE, BUT I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT SELF-RESPECT.
AND HE HAD THAT.
AND HE TOOK PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET CERTAIN THINGS DONE.
Narrator: HIS FIRST PRIORITY WAS NOT THE FILLMORE, BUT A DECAYING PRODUCE MARKET SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.
WITH ASTONISHING SPEED, HE AND MAYOR CHRISTOPHER BROKERED A DEAL TO MOVE THE PRODUCE VENDORS, CLEAR THE LAND, AND CONSTRUCT A GLEAMING SET OF LUXURY APARTMENTS AND OFFICES.
THE GOLDEN GATEWAY CENTER WAS URBAN RENEWAL AT ITS MOST GLORIOUS: SWIFT, PROSPEROUS, AND UNCONTROVERSIAL.
NO ONE THOUGHT THE FILLMORE SHOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.
Chester Hartman: JUSTIN HERMAN WAS VERY MUCH A BELIEVER IN THE BIG PROJECT, THE BIG PROJECT, WHICH MEANT TEAR IT ALL DOWN AND START OVER.
Narrator: WHAT HERMAN ENVISIONED FOR THE FILLMORE WAS BREATHTAKING.
HE CHAMPIONED THE PLAN FOR WESTERN ADDITION PROJECT A-1, WHICH HAD BEEN ADOPTED 3 YEARS EARLIER, AND TOOK IT FURTHER.
THE HEART OF OLD JAPANTOWN WOULD GIVE WAY TO A MAJOR TRADE CENTER AND HOTEL, FINANCED BY JAPANESE AND HAWAIIAN BANKS.
NEXT TO IT, AN UNDERGROUND BOULEVARD WOULD REPLACE OLD GEARY STREET, WHISKING COMMUTERS INTO DOWNTOWN, BYPASSING THE BOTTLENECK OF THE FILLMORE.
TO MAKE WAY, THERE WERE SOME 100 ACRES OF AGING VICTORIANS TO DEAL WITH.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS PEOPLE LIVED IN THEM.
THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF INVOLVING THEM IN THE PROCESS, NO INTENTION OF SAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THEM.
JUST GET THEM OUT OF THERE.
( ♪ ) Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF RUMOR, DELAY, AND INACTION, THE RESIDENTS FOUND THEMSELVES UNPREPARED FOR THE REALITY OF HERMAN'S EFFICIENT PLAN.
SOME 6,000 PEOPLE LIVED IN THE PATHWAY OF PHASE A-1.
MOST WERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT THERE WERE WHITES, AND A SMATTERING OF RESETTLED JAPANESE.
LESS THAN 20 YEARS AFTER PEARL HARBOR, RESIDENTS OF THE WESTERN ADDITION WERE AGAIN TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT THEY HAD TO LEAVE.
RENTERS WERE GIVEN $50 IN MOVING EXPENSES, $25 IF THEY LIVED ON A GROUND FLOOR.
FOR HOMEOWNERS, THE NEWS CAME FIRST IN LETTERS, BEARING SETTLEMENT OFFERS.
NOT A SINGLE HOUSE WAS DEEMED WORTH SAVING.
AMONG THE HOMEOWNERS WHO GOT THE BAD NEWS WAS CAROL O'GILV'S FAMILY.
Carol O'Gidvie: MY AUNT AND UNCLE HAD SPENT FROM 1943 TO 1950 WITH THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE OF OWNING PROPERTY IN A VERY GOOD SECTION OF THE WESTERN ADDITION WHERE IT WOULD BE OUR COMMUNITY, , OUR PEOPLE, OUR CHURCH, OUR LODGE, OUR CLUBS.
THEY OFFERED US, I THINK IT WAS $11,000.
I SAID, "NO," OR SOMETHING.
AND THEN I WENT DOWN AND TALKED TO THEM, AND THEY HAD RAISED IT TO $11,500, I BELIEVE.
THEN THEY SERVED US PAPERS THAT WE HAD TO GET OUT.
AND THEN TO BE TOLD THAT NOW YOU NEED TO RELOCATE.
THAT'S DISCOURAGING, BUT NOW WHERE DO WE GO?
Narrator: THE AGENCY HAD NO RELOCATION PLAN.
RESIDENTS SCRAMBLED TO FIND NEW HOUSING IN THE ALREADY TIGHT MARKET.
Lloyd Federlein: YOU WERE JUST KIND OF MORE OR LESS SCARED.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Narrator: SOME, LIKE CAROL O'GILVIE'S AUNT, SAW A WAY TO MOVE UP IN THE WORLD AND AWAY FROM THE FILLMORE.
WHEN THEY GAVE HER THAT LEMON OF FORCING HER TO SELL HER PROPERTY, SHE JUST MADE LEMONADE OUT OF IT.
( ♪ Slow, Haunting Music ♪ ) Carol O'Gilvie: MY AUNT WAS VERY UPSET THAT SHE COULD NOT HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE WHEN SHE WANTED TO DO IT.
AFTER YOU'RE LIVING THERE FOR 70, 80 YEARS OR SOMETHING, AND THEN SOMEBODY COMES ALONG AND SAYS, "YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY," AND YOU HAD NO SAY AT ALL.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) Chester ptman: THE CONCEPT OF EMINENT DOMAIN, WHICH IS AN OLD CONCEPT-- IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY-- THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO GO IN AND TAKE PROPERTY FORCIBLY, WITH COMPENSATION, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE OWNER WISHES TO SELL THE PROPERTY, HE MUST SELL IT TO THE GOVERNMENT, IN EFFECT, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SOME KIND OF A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
( ♪ Haunting Music Continues ♪ ) Lloyd Federlein: THEY TOOK OUR HOUSE DOWN.
WHAT DID THEY MAKE... A PARKING LOT OUT OF IT.
THAT'S ALL THEY DID.
THEY JUST PAVED IT OVER, AND IT'S A PARKING LOT.
THERE WAS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE PROPERTY WAS DEMOLISHED.
AND UNTIL THE PROPERTY WAS ACTUALLY LEVELED, MY UNCLE WOULD DRIVE EVERY MORNING AND COME BACK AND PARK IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY, AND MAYBE READ THE NEWSPAPER.
THEY JUST DID NOT GO AWAY.
YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS I WAS LOOKING DOWN THE STREET, IT WAS NOTHING BUT VICTORIANS.
AND AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS A BULLDOZER THERE, AND BY THE TIME YOU CAME BACK FROM SCHOOL, THE HOUSE AIN'T THERE NO MORE.
( ♪ ) Narrator: PHASE A-1 WAS IN FULL SWING.
NO LONGER JUST A PLAN, BUT A PHYSICAL FORCE.
STUNNED RESIDENTS WATCHED AS GEARY STREET DISAPPEARED TO BE REBORN AS GEARY BOULEVARD, A HIGHWAY SIX LANES WIDE AND A MILE LONG IT'S LIKE A MASON-DIXON LINE THE GEARY CORRIDOR GOING FROM DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE RICHMOND DISTRICT, THAT SEPAREDTED A THE BLACK COMMENITYG LINE FROM WHAT WAS NORTH AND PACIFIC HEIGHTS.
AND THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT REDEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, COUNTENANCED, AND ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS VERY MUCH A BORDERLINE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE.
THE JAPANESE WERE KIND OF THAT GRAY AREA IN THE MIDDLE.
Narrator: WITHIN TWO YEARS, THE HEART OF THE FILLMORE HAD BEEN CLEARED.
IN ITS PLACE ROSE THE NEW JAPATRADE CENTER AND HIGH RISE APARTMENTS, OUT-PRICING MOST OF THE FORMER RESIDENTS.
JUSTIN HERMAN HIMSELF LATER ADMITTED THAT OF THE 4,000 HOUSEHOLDS DISPLACED IN PHASE A-1, ONLY ONE FAMILY MOVED BACK IN.
THIS IS PART OF OUR REDEVELOPMENT ALSO.
YOU SAY "REDEVELOPMENT" MEANING...
REMOVAL OF NEGROES.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU MEANT HA-HA.
IN OTHER WORDS, A LOT OF THE NEGROES WHO CAME BECAUSE THE JAPANESE WERE PUSHED OUT... NOW THEY'RE BEING THAT'S PUSHED OUT THEMSELVES.
RIGHT.
IN EFFECT, SAN FRANCISCO IS RECLAIMING THIS PROPERTY THAT'S TO BUILD IT UP, RIGHT WHICH MEANS NEGROES THAT'S HAVE TO GO.
RIGHT.
Narrator: BY THE TIME JAMES BALDWIN VISITED THE FILLMORE, THE BLACK MIDDLE CLASS WAS LEAVING FOR THE SUBURBS, BOTH BY CHOICE AND BY FORCE.
( Sirens ) THE FILLMORE, EVEN WITH SOME BRAND NEW HOUSING PROJECTS, WAS IN DANGER OF BECOMING WHAT NOBODY HAD DARED NAME IT BEFORE-- A GHETTO.
Mary Rogers: I GOT TO KNOW ALL THE WINOS ON THE STREET, ALL THE DRUG ADDICTS ON THE STREET, THE DRUG DEALERS.
Narrator: MARY ROGERS, A MOTHER OF 12 CHILDREN, MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1965.
AND THEY KIND OF HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ME BECAUSE WHEN I'D SEE MY KIDS, I'D GO OUT THERE AND...
I HAD A WOODEN SPOON, AND I'D PADDLE THEM BACK AROUND THE CORNER.
( Kids Talking ) SO WHEN THEY WOULD SEE THEM OUT THERE, THEY'D SAY, "NOW, YOU KNOW YOUR MOTHER DON'T WANT YOU AROUND HERE.
GET ON BACK AROUND THAT CORNER."
Narrator: EVEN AFTER PHASE A-1, THERE WERE STILL SOME 30,000 FILLMORE RESIDENTS LIKE MARY ROGERS, WHO DIDN'T LIKE THE WORSENING CONDITIONS THEY SAW.
NEITHER DID JUSTIN HERMAN.
HE OFFERED A SOLUTION: A-2.
( ♪ Headline Music ♪ ) Newscaster: SAN FRANCISCO, THE LOVELY OLD CITY IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.
THE OLD MUST GIVE WAY TO THE NEW.
TO THAT END, A DARING MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN INAUGURATED: THE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN, UNDER WHICH THE SUB-STANDARD DWELLINGS ARE TO BE REPLACED BY MODERN HOUSING AND BUSINESS CENTERS, POSES PROBLEMS BEYOND THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FINANCING.
REMOVAL OF VAST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO LOW-INCOME, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS... Narrator: THE PAINT WASN'T DRY ON THE NEW JAPAN TRADE CENTER, WHEN JUSTIN HERMAN ANNOUNCED THE AMBITIOUS PLAN.
PHASE A-2 WAS MASSIVE.
IT WOULD TARGET SOME 60 SQUARE BLOCKS, AFFECTING MORE THAN 13,000 RESIDENTS.
THIS TIME, THEY WERE SKEPTICAL.
I LIVED HERE ALL OF MY LIFE.
I'VE WORKED HERE.
I'VE SWEATED.
AND I'M STILL WORKING, EVEN THOUGH I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I'LL BE HERE.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE NO INTENTION TO MOVE AND IF A BULLDOZER COMES DOWN MY WAY, BABY, I'LL BE THERE IN THIS WHEELCHAIR, AND HE'LL HAVE A HELLUVA GOOD TIME.
( Applause ) PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED A-1 AND THEY KNEW ABOUT IT.
AND WHEN A-2 STARTED TO COME ALONG, THESE HOMEOWNERS WERE UP IN ARMS.
Mary Rogers: I REFUSE TO BE SENT, THAT BECAUSE I'M BLACK, I'VE GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND I DECIDED I WASN'T GOING TO MOVE.
I WASN'T GOING NOWHERE TILL I GOT GOOD AND READY.
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, BUT THERE WERE A BUNCH OF CONCERNED PEOPLE.
I'M JUST ABOUT TO FLIP!
PLEASE BELIEVE ME!
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: THEY WERE HAVING ONE OF THEIR EARLY MEETINGS...
THEY DON'T EVEN ASK YOU, "WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT?"
THEY DON'T EVEN DO THAT.
THEY COME AND PUT THE PRICE TO YOU AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO ACCEPT IT.
I DON'T APPROVE OF THAT.
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: I WAS SITTING THERE.
I NEVER OPENED MY MOUTH IN PUBLIC IN MY LIFE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS I LISTENED TO THEM AND LISTENED TO THE COMPLAINTS, THE THINGS THAT WERE DOWN IN THEIR GUTS THAT WERE HURTING THEM, THAT THEY WERE ANGRY ABOUT, I GOT UP AND BEGAN TO SPEAK, RIGHT OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY.
THEY LIKED THE WAY I SPOKE, AND EVERYWHERE WE WENT FROM THEN ON, "WE WANT HANNIBAL TO BE OUR SPOKESMAN."
( Applause ) Narrator: NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISM WAS STILL A NEW IDEA IN 1966.
BUT ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESSIVE MINISTERS, MOSTLY WHITES, HANNIBAL WILLIAMS, A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC AND SELF-DESCRIBED "NE'ER DO WELL," HAD FOUND A CALLING.
WE PROMISE YOU THAT WE WILL BE BACK, AND WE WILL SEE THE MAYOR!
WE COULD GET THE HOMEOWNER'S GROUP, THE WELFARE RIGHTS GROUP, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ORGANIZING AGAINST THE SCHOOLS, ANY GROUP THAT WOULD JOIN OUR GROUP OF GROUPS, YOU KNOW.
Narrator: THEY CALLED THEMSELVES WACO-- THE WESTERN ADDITION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
( Hannibal Williams at Meeting ) WHEN THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, YOU KNOW, AS A BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT, BECOMES THE SLUMLORD IN OUR AREA, THEN I SAY THAT THINGS HAVE REACHED A DEPLORABLE STATE.
WE JUST USED TO RAISE SO MUCH HELL THEY THOUGHT HMMM.
WE WAS CRAZY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE US COMING.
( Mary Rogers ) WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED FOR RENEWING THIS AREA.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE ASSURANCE AND THE GUARANTEE THAT THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE US AT THE COMPLETION DATE.
WE FOUND OUT DOWNTOWN WAS HAVING A MEETING CONCERNING HOUSING, CONCERNING THE WESTERN ADDITION.
WE'D ALL GO HOME AND WE'D EACH CALL 5 OR 10 PEOPLE ANSA,"MEET US IN THE MORNING AT 10 O'CLOCK OR 8 O'CLOCK," AHH AND WE'D TURN OUT 200 OR HMM.
300 PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
Narrator: WACO DEMANDED A SAY IN THE PLANNING OF A-2, ( Woman Protesting ) INSISTING THAT RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO REMAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN LOW-COST REPLACEMENT HOUSING BUILT TO THEIR NEEDS.
THE TROUBLE WAS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS.
AS FAR AS THE LAW WAS CONCERNED, REDEVELOPMENT WAS A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY.
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: PEOPLE WERE HELPLESS AGAINST THE POWER OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
AND SOMEHOW THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO HAD GIVEN TO JUSTIN HERMAN, TREMENDOUS POWER TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTED TO IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE NOTION OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION WAS VERY, VERY, IT WAS REAL ANATHEMA TO PEOPLE LIKE JUSTIN HERMAN.
HE WANTED TO BE THE PLANNER.
HE DIDN'T WANT THOSE FOLKS DOWN THERE TO INTERFERE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE DEVIL WAS, BUT WE KNEW WHO JUSTIN HERMAN WAS, AND THAT WAS THE DEVIL FOR US.
( Sounds of Bulldozers ) Narrator: HERMAN FELT THAT THE PLANS FOR A-2 INCLUDED PLENTY OF LOW COST AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING AND INSISTED THEY MOVE FORWARD.
( Justin Herman ) THIS WILL HAVE 116 UNITS OF FAMILY HOUSING.
WE CALL IT MODERATE PRICED HOUSING, BECAUSE IT IS MUCH LOWER THAN WHAT THE MARKET WOULD ORDINARILY PROVIDE.
( Hannibal Williams ) WELL, THOSE ARE JUSTIN HERMAN'S WORDS, AND HE IS GOING TO KEEP TALKING, AND WHILE HE KEEPS TALKING, HE'S GOING TO KEEP GRINDING UP LITTLE PEOPLE.
AND WHEN HE STOPS TALKING AND STARTS LISTENING TO US, MAYBE SOME OF THIS WILL MAKE SOME SENSE.
MR. HERMAN, THAT'S ALL GARBAGE.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
Chester Hartman: THE AGENCY WOULD TRY TO IMPRESS PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD COME BACK TO THE AREA, BUT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
ONE IS THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS LEAD TIME BETWEEN WHEN PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED AND WHEN THE NEW HOUSING WAS UP THERE-- YEARS AND YEARS IN MANY CASES.
SECONDLY, THE HOUSING THAT GOT PUT UP WAS USUALLY NOT OF THE SAME TYPE: MUCH LARGER BUILDINGS AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO IT WAS KIND OF A FALSE PROMISE THAT WAS PUT OUT, THAT WE'RE DOING IT SO THAT YOU CAN COME BACK.
IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.
Narrator: FRUSTRATED BY THE ONGOING DEMOLITION, WACO TOOK DIRECT ACTION.
Mary Rogers: WE'D CHAIN HANDS.
OH, YEAH.
AND SAY, WE'D JOIN HANDS "RUN OVER US!
KILL US, WE DON'T CARE.
WE'VE GOT BUT ONE LIFE TO GIVE.
YOU AIN'T COMIN' IN HERE."
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE DID.
( Laughs! )
THEY OPENED THIS PROJECT, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS GREAT BOON TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
AND WE LOOKED AT IT AND WE SAID, "THIS IS A SHAME TO PROJECT THIS THING AS SOMETHING TO BENEFIT POOR BLACK PEOPLE WHEN IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO STOP IT."
WE WENT TO THE HARDWARE STORE.
I PERSONALLY PURCHASED A PADLOCK.
AND I PADLOCKED, WE PADLOCKED AT GATE.
AND THEN WE STOOD IN FRONT OF IT AND SAID, HIPRECT IS OSED BTHE PELE ♪ ) STOOD AGAINST THE LICE DTMENT.
WE STOOD AGAINST THE THREAT OF ARREST.
WE STOOD THERE!
WE SAID, "WE'RE NOT MOVING."
Chester Hartman: BOTH HERMAN AND HIS STAFF WERE EXTRAORDINARILY ARROGANT ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
HE HATED PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES, MESS UP WITH HIS EMPIRE, BECAUSE HE REALLY WAS AN EMPIRE BUILDER.
Narrator: PRIVATELY, HERMAN CALLED THE WACO PROTESTORS "IRRITANTS," AND THEIR SUPPORTERS, "THE BLEEDING HEART CLUB."
BUT THEIR TACTICS WERE MAKING NEWS AND BEGINNING TO EMBARRASS THE AGENCY.
HERMAN BEGAN RECRUITING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MIGHT HELP HIM WIN SUPPORT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HE FOUND A CANDIDATE IN WILBUR HAMILTON, SON OF A WESTERN ADDITION PREACHER, AND AN ENERGETIC CITY COMMISSIONER.
HAMILTON COULD BRING CREDIBILITY TO THE AGENCY IF HERMAN COULD WOO HIM ON STAFF.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: WHAT HE DID WAS CREATE A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE A WHOLE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR THE AGENCY AT A PUBLIC MEETING WAS FILLED WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM THE WESTERN ADDITION.
AND THEN HE THREW DOWN THE GAUNTLET, TOOK SOME KIND OF TOTALLY INANE AND UNCONSCIONABLE POSITION.
AND I WAS ON HIM QUICKLY.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THAT, JUSTIN BELLOWED AT ME: "WELL!"
HE STOOD UP IN HIS CHAIR AND SAID, "WELL!
IF YOU'RE SO DAMNED DISSATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT TO THE WESTERN ADDITION AND RUN THE PROGRAM!"
I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK LONG ABOUT THAT.
I TOLD HIM, "YOU'VE GOT A DEAL.
I'LL RUN IT!"
AND JUSTIN SAID, "GOTCHA!"
(Laughs) I BECAME THE DIRECTOR FOR A-2.
I REALLY FELT HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO DO IT, BECAUSE I SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME THINGS THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE FROM THE INSIDE.
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: WE THOUGHT ANYBODY WHO WENT TO WORK FOR THE AGENCY WAS THE ENEMY.
IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE THE AGENCY STARTED OUT WITH PRACTICALLY NO BLACK EMPLOYEES, AND THE LONGER WE FOUGHT THEM, AND THE HARDER WE FOUGHT THEM, THE MORE BLACKS THEY HIRED.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT QUALIFIED THEM IN JUSTIN HERMAN'S EYES WAS THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
Narrator: INTEGRATED OR NOT, THE AGENCY CONTINUED TO ACQUIRE AND DEMOLISH PROPERTY.
TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW HOUSING, WILBUR HAMILTON, HIMSELF, HAD TO OVERSEE THE DERUCTION OF AN OLD CHURCH ON POST STREET-- THE CHURCH HIS FATHER HAD BUILT.
TO HAMILTON AND TO HERMAN, IT WAS ALL FOR THE LARGER GOOD.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: THE BOTTOM LINE: JUSTIN WAS COMMITTED TO THE PURPOSE AND REALIZATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AS IT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST LONG-TERM OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO TEAR DOWN OUR HOMES, BROTHER.
WHEN THE WHITE MAN TRIES TO TEAR DOWN YOUR HOME, THEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO?
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE NO PLACE WHEN THEY GET THROUGH.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVING OUT ON THE STREET.
UNTIL WE ARE ALLOWED TO COOPERATE IN THE SHAPING OF OUR OWN DESTINIES, YOU CAN GIVE US GOLDEN GONDOLAS TO FLOAT TO HEAVEN IN, AND IF WE'RE NOT PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN, IF WE CAN'T SAY WITHIN OUR OWN SOULS THAT WE HELPED BUILD THAT, WE STILL HAVEN'T GOT THE DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT THAT IT GETS TO TAKE POOR PEOPLE TO RISE UP AND BE PEOPLE.
( Cheers ) Narrator: WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN, WACO FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT.
IT WAS A LONG SHOT.
THEY HOPED TO CATCH THE AGENCY VIOLATING FEDERAL HOUSING LAW, AND SHUT OFF ITS MONEY.
HERMAN WAS BAFFLED THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD WANT TO DELAY IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.
HE REMARKED, A LITIGATION ATTORNEY, CAN DO NOTHING IN THE SOCIAL FIELD.
WE CAN.
FOR WACO, JUST GETTING A JUDGE TO HEAR THEIR CASE WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED.
UP TO THAT POINT, COMMUNITY RESIDENTS DID NOT EVEN HAVE ( Voices Protesting ) THE LEGAL RIGHT TO OPPOSE REDEVELOPMENT.
WHEN THE DECISION CAME, IT WAS A STUNNER!
Ret.
Hannibal Silliams: NOT ONLY DID WE SUE THEM, BUT WE WON.
WE GOT THIS FEDERAL INJUNCTION WHICH LASTED UNTIL THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH US, POOR LITTLE WACO, THIS RIDICULOUS IRRITANT THAT BOTHERED THEM.
ARBITRARY ACTIONS WERE OVER.
( Applause ) PEOPLE HAD TO BE CONSULTED.
Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, RESIDENTS HAD WON THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RENEWAL OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
FOR JUSTIN HERMAN, IT WAS A BITTER PILL.
I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE WACO STANDS.
I THINK WACO STANDS WHEREVER IT CAN FIND A CHINK IN THE ARMOR OF THE COMMUNITY, OR OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
IT SURE FOUND ONE IN THE FEDERAL ARMOR THIS TIME.
THIS IS THE KIND OF VICTORY THAT THE COUNTRY CAN BE PROUD OF BECAUSE THIS VICTORY WAS ACHIEVED WITHOUT THROWING BRICKS, WITHOUT THROWING FIREBOMBS, AND WITHOUT CREATING HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I RATHER THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE FORGOT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST, AND THERE ISN'T ANY DOUBT THAT MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND LET'S GET DOWN TO WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO DO FROM HERE ON IN.
( Applause ) Narrator: THE LAWSUIT SEEMED TO USHER IN A NEW ERA IN SAN FRANCISCO REDEVELOPMENT, OR AT LEAST A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE.
A COMMUNITY PANEL NOW HAD TO REVIEW PLANS.
CHURCHES AND UNIONS BECAME PARTNERS WITH THE CITY ON NEW HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND INSTEAD OF BULLDOZING OLD VICTORIANS, THE AGENCY LOOKED FOR ANOTHER SOLUTION.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: WE CAN PRESERVE HOUSING STOCK A WHOLE LOT EASIER THAN WE CAN CREATE IT.
SO WE GOT INTO WHOLESALE MOVING OF VICTORIANS.
( ♪ ) Steve Nakajo: THOSE WERE THE BESTHOW IN TOWN.
THEY HAD TO CUT WIRES, MAN.
THEY LIFTED THESE HOUSES.
THEY PUT THEM ON THESE THINGS.
AND IT WAS A CRACK UP TO WATCH THE REDEVELOPMENT STAFF AND THESE GUYS MESS UP, YOU KNOW, LIKE TAKE THE WALL, MOVE THE HOUSE INTO A STREET, YOU KNOW, AND KNOCK OFF A POLE.
Narrator: THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BEING REARRANGED, BUT THE CENTRAL IDEA OF CLEARING WHOLE CITY BLOCKS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS NEVER CHANGED.
JUSTIN HERMAN REMARKED, "NO LITTLE POPULAR GROUP IS GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.
THEY AREN'T GOING TO STOP ONE EITHER."
Albert Broussard: THIS PROCESS, THIS JUGGERNAUT, THIS STEAMROLLER, WAS ALREADY IN MOTION.
AND THERE PROBABLY WAS VERY LITTLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.
YOU COULD NOT STOP THAT.
THERE WAS NO COMMUNITY THAT COULD STOP THAT.
Narrator: THE WACO LAWSUIT WOULD AFFECT THE WAY AN ENTIRE NATION CAME TO THINK OF RESIDENTS' RIGHTS.
BUT FOR THE NEHBORHOOD IT MEANT TO SAVE...
IT SEEMED TO HAVE COME TOO LATE.
OKAY, BACK IN THE '60'S, WHEN THEY TOLD US WE COULD COME BACK, THIS WAS OUR PROMISSORY NOTE.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?
Man, Off Microphone: TELL ME ABOUT IT.
THIS UAS A CERTIFICATE OF PREFERENCE.
SO WHEN THE BUSINESSES, AND PEOPLE THAT MOVED OUT OF THE AREA, IF THEY MOVED BACK ONCE THEY REBUILT IT, THIS IS OUR CERTIFICATE OF PREFERENCE.
WE HAVE FIRST CHOICE TO COME BACK.
WE'RE STAYED HERE FOR 20 YEARS.
SO WHEN WE DID DECIDE TO COME BACK, WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
Man, Off Microphone: WHO SIGNED IT?
Reggie Pettus: JUSTIN HERMAN.
IT AIN'T NO GOOD.
IT'S A MOMENTO.
WELL ANYWAY, THAT'S OUR PROMISSORY NOTE.
Narrator: THERE WE THOUSANDS OF CERTIFICATES LIKE THE CHICAGO BARBER SHOP'S, ENTITLING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO RETURN TO THE FILLMORE ONCE IT WAS REBUILT.
THE CERTIFICATES WERE THE SPOILS OF A HARD-WON COMMUNITY VICTORY.
AT THAT MOMENT, NO ONE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY ( ♪ ) BY THE TIME THEY WERE ISSUED, LARGE TRACTS OF LAND HAD ALREADY BEEN CLEARED IN THE WESTERN ADDITION, AND 10,000 PEOPLE HAD MOVED OUT TO MAKE WAY FOR MAJOR HOUSING PROJECTS.
THEY DEMOLISHED, AND LAND STAYED VACANT FOR YEARS, YEARS.
( ♪ Jazz Music in Background ♪ ) THE CHURCHES BEGAN TO LOSE POPULATION.
THE BLACK BUSINESSES WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED, TOTALLY DESTROYED.
THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS VIRTUALLY CEASED TO EXIST IN SAN FRANCISCO.
A LOT OF THE CLUBS WERE JUST DYING.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
MONIES WAS GETTING FUNNY.
THEY JUST STARTED CLOSING.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) John Handy: BOP CITY WAS OPEN BUT THE FIRE WAS GONE.
YOU KNOW, THE INSPIRATION WAS GONE.
THE MUSIC WAS GONE.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) Narrator: OF ALL THE CERTIFICATES ALLOWING FILLMORE BUSINESSES TO RETURN, 96% WENT UNUSED.
Steve Nakajo: I REMEMBER CLEARLY WHEN IT STARTED TO GET DARK AND DESOLATE AND EMPTY AND ABANDONED, AND THEN THE BOARDS STARTED GOING UP.
THEN IT STARTED TO REALLY LOOK LIKE CRAP.
AND IT STARTED TO FALL INTO WHAT I CALL "THE TURBULENT '60'S."
( ♪ Music with Loud Screams ♪ ) Albert Broussard: SAN FRANCISCO HAD FAIRLY SERIOUS RACIAL PROBLEMS, AND THAT CAME HOME IN A VERY REAL WAY IN 1966, WHEN SAN FRANCISCO HAD ITS FIRST RACE RIOT.
( Rioting, Helicopter Noise ) THIS RIOT WAS SPARKED BY THE KILLING OF A BLACK TEENAGER IN HUNTER'S POINT BY A WHITE POLICEMAN.
THE COMMUNITY EXPLODED.
( Rioting, Gunshots, Sirens ) Albert Broussard: FIGHTING SPREAD FROM THE HUNTER'S POINT TO THE FILLMORE DISTRICT, AND ALMOST OVERNIGHT, YOU COULD SEE A CHANGE.
MANY OF THE STOREFRONTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE OWNED BY WHITES, WERE DESTROYED.
THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS ULTIMATELY CALLED IN.
( Sirens, Rioting Continues ) Narrator: IT WAS A TIME FOR ANGER, NOT JUST IN THE FILLMORE, BUT ALL OVER AMERICA.
WAR, ASSASSINATION, POVERTY, RACISM.
PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN LOCKED OUT AND FOOLED WITH WERE FED UP.
THEY STOOD ON THE RUBBLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCREAMED.
( Shouting, Fighting, Rioting ) THEY GOT MAD.
THEY JUMPED ON A FEW OF THEM.
THEY SENT A FEW OF THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
Reporter: SOME SHOTS FIRED, AND SOME GAS WAS USED.
AND, OF COURSE, THIS CAUSED A GREAT MANY PEOPLE TO GATHER.
Narrator: THE FILLMORE MAY NOT HAVE BURNED LIKE WATTS OR NEWARK, BUT THE RAGE RAN JUST AS HOT.
Reporter: WE HAD REPORTS DURING THIS TIME OF ASSAULTS AND OTHER ACTIVITY.
Narrator: AND SO IT WAS THAT AT A ROUTINE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HEARING IN 1971, JUSTIN HERMAN CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE ANGER AND HURT OF THE COMMUNITY HE HAD WORKED 12 YEARS TO TRANSFORM.
THE NEXT MONTH, HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.
( ♪ ) AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, FEW PEOPLE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED AN EARLY WARNING UTTERED JUST A YEAR INTO HERMAN'S TENURE IN SAN FRANCISCO: "WITHOUT ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR THE POOR," THIS PROPHET SAID, "CRITICS WILL RIGHTLY CONDEMN URBAN RENEWAL AS A LAND-GRAB FOR THE RICH, AND A HEARTLESS PUSH-OUT FOR THE POOR AND NONWHITES."
THE SPEAKER WAS JUSTIN HERMAN.
SADLY, EVEN WITH THE VICTORIES THAT WE WON, I SAW US GRADUALLY LOSE.
I THINK THAT WE SLOWED THE AGENCY DOWN.
WE ALTERED SOME OF THEIR PROCESSES.
BUT, IN THE END, URBAN RENEWAL PERFORMED PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE FEARED THAT IT WOULD.
URBAN RENEWAL BECAME BLACK REMOVAL.
( Somber Music ) Charles Collins: IT LOOKS AS IF AN ATOMIC BOMB HAS BEEN BLASTED, AND THIS IS GROUND ZERO.
( Music Continues ) Steve Nakajo: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMETIMES YOUR MOOD IS GRAY, AND EVERYTHING IS OVERCAST AND CLOUDY AND GLOOMY?
YOU COULD RIDE FILLMORE WITH ALL OF THESE SKELETONS, ALL OF THESE BUILDINGS JUST LINED ALL THE WAY UP, AND BOARDED UP, AND DISMAL AND DESOLATE.
AND THE ONLY SPOTS OF PEOPLE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT BUS ZONES.
Albert Broussard: YOU WOULD SEE A PREPONDERANCE OF JUNKIES AND PROSTITUTES.
YOU WOULD SEE MORE POLICEMAN.
AND YOU WOULD SEE STEEL DOORS OR BURGLAR BARS ON WINDOWS.
Narrator: THE MORE DANGEROUS THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAME, THE LESS IT ATTRACTED DEVELOPERS.
THE PRIME PROPERTY, WAS THE FILLMORE CENTER, NINE ACRES AREA IN THE HEART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Rev.
Wilbur Hamilton: THE APPEARANCE WAS BOMBED OUT AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
WELL, THE REASON THAT WAS THAT WAY, QUITE FRANKLY, WAS THE INSISTENCE ON MY PART, AND THAT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S.
THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM THE WESTERN ADDITION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.
AND SO WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS WHICH FAILED.
I INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY, LOTS OF TIMES.
AND I'M CERTAIN, THAT IF WE HAD BEEN SELECTED, WE COULD NOT HAVE SECURED THE FINANCING.
THE FINANCING INSTITUTIONS WERE NOT BUYING IT.
( ♪ ) THAT IS, THEY WERE VERY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT INVESTING THAT KIND OF MONEY IN THE MIDDLE OF EVEN A RESTORED AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
Narrator: AS BANKS TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FILLMORE CENTER LAY VACANT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
♪ WINTER...♪ ♪ WINTER IN AMERICA...♪ ♪ AND AIN'T NOBODY SAYING...♪ MANY OF THE GUYS THAT I GREW UP WITH GOT STRUNG OUT ON DRUGS.
AND ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION, MOST OF THEM DID NOT LIVE TO SEE THEIR 40TH BIRTHDAY.
♪ WINTER IN AMERICA...♪ WHAT WAS MISSING IN THE WHOLE EQUATION WERE JOBS, WAS THE STRUCTURE OF WORK, AND THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
Albert Broussard: I HAD A GRAY WOOL SUIT THAT I REFERRED TO AS MY FUNERAL SUIT THAT I WOULD ALWAYS KEEP DRY CLEANED AND READY, BECAUSE WITHIN ABOUT A TWO-MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, I REMEMBER GOING TO THREE FUNERALS.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) I THINK IT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT THAT BORN OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY WAS JONESTOWN.
Narrator: IN 1972, A PROGRESSIVE PREACHER NAMED JIM JONES LEASED AN ABANDONED SYNAGOGUE NEXT TO THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM AND STARTED A MINISTRY FOR THE URBAN POOR OF THE WESTERN ADDITION.
THE TEMPLE WAS RIGHT AT GEARY AND FILLMORE.
GROUND ZERO OF WHAT HAPPENED WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA OF THE FILLMORE DISTRICT.
AND HE CAME INTO A COMMUNITY THAT NEEDED TO HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, PEOPLE WHO WERE BROKEN.
PEOPLE WERE INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE.
I RECALL EVEN MY OWN MOTHER IN ONE INSTANCE HAVING GONE TO A PEOPLE'S TEMPLE SERVICE, COMING HOME TELLING ME ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL MAN NAMED JIM JONES.
♪ AND NOW IT'S WINTER...♪ ♪ WINTER IN AMERICA...♪ PEOPLE WERE DESPERATE FOR SOLUTIONS.
PEOPLE WHO NEEDED SOMETHING TO FOLLOW.
JIM JONES WAS ANOTHER SOLUTION.
HE WAS SOMETHING TO FOLLOW.
Charles Collins: AND SO THE NOTION OF LEAVING FILLMORE AND GOING TO GUYANA AND BUILDING A NEW EDEN WAS PROBABLY VERY ATTRACTIVE TO THESE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF FAMILIES.
MOST OF THESE PEOPLE CAME RIGHT FROM THE FILLMORE DISTRICT.
( ♪ ) ( Helicopter Whirling ) Narrator: IN NOVEMBER, 1978, MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM FILLMORE RESIDENTS, DIED IN GUYANA, VICTIMS OF MURDER AND SUICIDE.
THEIR BODIES WERE RETURNED AND BURIED IN OAKLAND.
ELEVEN YEARS LATER, THE TEMPLE THEY LEFT BEHIND IN THE FILLMORE, DAMAGED BY FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE, WAS DEMOLISHED BY A BULLDOZER.
♪ NOBODY, KNOWS WHAT TO SAY...♪ ( Traffic Sounds ) ( Outside Sounds Heard While Driving in Car ) ( More Street Sounds ) ( Neighborhood Sounds ) Mary Rogers: WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING BREAKFAST FOR THE HOMELESS, AND WE NEED TO BE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MONEY AT THIS AGENCY HERE IS ABOUT, HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT FOR PROFIT.
SO PUT IT OUT THERE, AND GET SOME HOUSING, SO WE CAN GET THESE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: WELL, MARY WAS AN ACTIVIST WHEN WE MET HER, YOU KNOW.
IT WASN'T AS THOUGH WE MADE AN ACTIVIST OUT OF HER.
WHAT ARE WE ON NOW?
McALLISTER.
McALLISTER, OK.
WHEN I WALKED THE STREET WITH MARY ROGERS, THERE WERE THESE FORLORN GUYS WANDERING AROUND.
THEY ALL KNOW MARY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY HAVE SOME AFFECTION FOR HER.
THEY'RE LIKE LOST SOULS.
( Street Sounds ) ( Shouting ) LET'S GO!
Rev.
Hannibal Williams: AND THE FACT THAT SHE IS THERE GIVES THEM SOMETHING OF A COMMUNITY THAT THEY CAN STILL HOLD ONTO.
MARY'S THE COMMUNITY!
THE FILLMORE DIDN'T JUST CHANGE.
I THINK IT WAS DESTROYED.
IT WAS DEVASTATED AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AS AN IMPORTANT AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN DISPERSED, JUST LIKE THE JEWS WERE.
( Shrugs ) ( ♪ Japanese Music with Crowd Sounds ♪ ) ( ♪ ) Narrator: EACH WINTER, IN ANOTHER PART OF THE FILLMORE, THE NISEI, THE SANSEI, AND NOW TWO YOUNGER GENERATIONS GATHER FROM HOMES ALL OVER THE REGION TO REMEMBER THE DAY THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE ORDER TO SEND JAPANESE-AMERICANS TO RELOCATION CAMPS.
( ♪ ) Steve Nakajo: THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT NEED TO HAVE OUR PHYSICAL COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN ALL FOCUS UPON-- JAPANTOWN, NIHONMACHI, DOES REPRESENT TO ME THE COMMUNITY.
Narrator: ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS LIVE IN JAPANTOWN ANYMORE.
BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE CHANGES, THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD STILL CALLS THEM BACK.
( ♪ Music Continues ♪ ) Amy Sujishi: THIS STILL IS OUR LITTLE NICHE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THERE WERE SO MANY TRADITIONS LOST THROUGH THE YEARS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE THINGS BACK.
AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO PARTICIPATE AND BE A CANDIDATE IN THE CHERRY BLOSSOM QUEEN PAGEANT.
IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO LEARN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HISTORY.
Doris Morimoto: I HOPE SHE DOES WELL.
Amy Sujishi: HA-HA!
I DO TOO!
( ♪ ) GOING BACK TO THE JAPANESE DANCE, IT REMINDS ME OF MY PAST.
Announcer: AMY SUJISHI!
( Applause and Cheers ) Amy Sujishi: THERE IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A SENSE OF ETHNIC SOLIDARITY IN JAPANTOWN.
Doris Morimoto: I THINK IT'S A SENSE OF CLOSENESS.
WHAT IP IS.
YEAH, THAT#S Carol O'Gilvie: IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR A CULTURE OR A CIVILIZATION TO DEVELOP.
WHAT I SAW WAS HAPPENING IN THAT 7-YEAR PERIOD, OR IN THAT 10-YEAR PERIOD, IT WAS REMARKABLE.
( ♪ Saxophone Solo ♪ ) Carol O'Gilvie: BUT TO HAVE IT AT ITS TENDEREST POINT, TO HAVE IT DESTROYED AND DISSEMINATED, MAKES IT VERY PAINFUL.
IT'S HARD TO RECREATE COMMUNITY CONSCIOUSLY.
IT SORT OF COMES UP ALMOST OF ITS OWN FORCES.
AND IT'S VERY EASY TO DESTROY.
SO MUCH OF URBAN RENEWAL DID CONSCIOUSLY DESTROY COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU RECOGNIZE IN REDEVELOPMENT IS THE "HUMPTY DUMPTY" NOTION.
YOU KNOW, "HUMPTY DUMPTY" HAD A BIG FALL... AND NOBODY PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
ONCE YOU'VE TAKEN APART A COMMUNITY, IT NEVER COMES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
Gina Stout: THIS IS THE FILLMORE CENTER, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PLAZA.
THE FILLMORE IS SPREAD OVER NINE ACRES.
WE HAVE OVER 1,100 APARTMENTS.
Willie Brown, Jr: THE CITY HAS BECOME UNIVERSAL IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
AND WE'RE NEVER GOING BACK.
SO ONE CAN LAMENT ABOUT THE CHANGE AND WHO LIVES WHERE, BUT YOU CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Gina Stout: ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT OUR RESIDENTS ENJOY MOST IS CLUB ONE HERE AT THE FILLMORE.
WE HAVE A 5 LANE LAP POOL.
THEY HAVE A CARDIO THEATER.
WE HAVE 5 LARGE SCREEN TVs.
Chester Hartman: THE CITY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMING VERY RAPIDLY AT BEING A CITY THAT IS NOT FOR POOR PEOPLE.
IT IS STILL A CITY VERY MUCH WITH A RACIALLY MIXED POPULATION, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE IT IS THE ONLY MAJOR U.S. CITY THAT IS ACTUALLY LOSING BLACK POPULATION BOTH NUMERICALLY AND PROPORTION.
THIS IS SAD, I THINK, BECAUSE I THINK ANY CITY SHOULD HAVE A MUCH GREATER MIXTURE THAN SEEMS TO BE THE CASE OCCURRING HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
Gina Stout: THIS PARTICULAR APARTMENT IS ONE OF OUR PENTHOUSE APARTMENTS.
THE PRICE RANGE ON THIS APARTMENT IS ABOUT $1,600 TO $1,700 A MONTH.
IF YOU DIDN'T WANT A PENTHOUSE... Charles Collins: GENTRIFICATION IS, IN FACT, OCCURRING.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
WE LIVE IN VERY, VERY PROSPEROUS ECONOMIC TIMES.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS SINCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS FIRST CALLED A SLUM.
AT LAST, THE KIND OF PROSPERITY ENVISIONED LONG AGO BY CITY HALL SEEMS TO BE TAKING HOLD, IN MOST PARTS, ANYWAY.
BUT AS THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CLOSES OUT ITS PROJECTS IN THE WESTERN ADDITION, IT IS GIVING ONE FINAL NOD TO WHAT ONCE WAS.
AMONG ITS LAST EFFORTS HERE, IS THE CREATION OF A JAZZ PRESERVATION DISTRICT IN THE HEART OF THE OLD FILLMORE.
ONE OF THE KEY PROPERTIES IS BEING DEVELOPED BY CHARLES COLLINS.
WE LOOK AT THE FILLMORE AND ITS VERY RICH HISTORY IN JAZZ, MUSIC, BLUES, HIP-HOP, BEE-BOP, R&B, SOUL.
AND WE OUGHT TO RECLAIM OUR HISTORY.
IF IT HAPPENS, IT WILL HAPPEN ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LEVEL.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL...
IT CERTAINLY CAN'T BE THE WAY IT WAS.
WE'RE NOT THERE ANY MORE.
( ♪ Cheering, Woman Singing Jazz Song ♪ ) ( Singing in Background ) ♪ ...WE'RE OUT THERE WALKING, YEAH...♪ Willie Brown, Jr: WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE WESTERN ADDITION NOW IS FRANKLY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION TO SAN FRANCISCO.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WE ARE RESTORING THE ORIGINAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
( ♪ Music Ends, Cheers ♪ ) DO I CARE?
YES, I DO.
I WISH I COULD HAVE IT LIKE IT WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE WORLD MOVES ON, AND UNLESS YOU MOVE ON WITH THE WORLD, YOU'RE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING.
( Traffic Sounds ) THERE WILL BE SOME OF THE OLD FLAVOR.
THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM WILL BE THERE FOREVER.
THE CHICAGO BARBER SHOP, WHERE I GET MY HAIR CUT, IT WILL BE THERE FOREVER.
IT IS AN INSTITUTION.
( Sounds of Hair Cutting ) WE'VE GOT A CLUB OVER HERE.
WE'VE GOT A CLUB ACROSS THE STREET.
AND ONE GOING DOWN THE NEXT BLOCK.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO COMPARISON.
IT WON'T COME BACK.
NO, IT WON'T COME BACK.
YOU CAN SAY, "I HOPE IT WILL STILL BE HERE."
T, NAW, IT WON'T COME BACK.
THE FLAVOR IS GONE.
( Chuckles ) THE FLAVOR IS GONE.
IT'S LIKE I SAID BEFORE.
"FILLMORE, NO-MORE, YBE SOME-MORE IN THE FUTURE."
( Chuckles ) BURIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TAKING IT DAY BY DAY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO.
DAY BY DAY.
( Blues Song ) ♪ TOMORROW, ♪ ♪ WILL ALL MY DREAMS ♪ ♪ BE IN VAIN?
♪ ( ♪ ) ♪ TOMORROW, ♪ ♪ YEAH, TOMORROW.
♪ ♪ WILL ALL MY JOY ♪ ♪ TURN TO PAIN?
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