How the Valley Taught Me to Love Differences

Grace in a Divided America

The Valley Julius remembers is long gone, but its echoes remain. In this article, we compare the Bronx of the 1960s to today’s ever-evolving borough. What’s changed, what remains, and…

Lessons from Lavinia Smith

What It Meant to Bronx Kids in the 60s

Why neighborhood celebrations once meant so much

In one of the memoir’s most emotional chapters, Julius recounts the profound loss of his mother, Lavinia Smith, a trailblazer, educator, and inspiration. This touching tribute explores the sacrifices she…

Before Co-op City rose from the marshes, the Bronx was home to Freedomland USA, an ambitious, short-lived theme park billed as the “Disneyland of the East.” In this heartfelt reflection,…

In a world before smartphones and streaming, childhood was made of stickball games in the street, front stoops filled with laughter, and neighbors who knew your name. Julius Burns Smith…