Davidson, Gary: Sarita Daftary-Steel collection of East New York oral histories: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents

In the interview, Gary Davidson describes his family's history in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, the effect the city's policy of planned shrinkage in the 1970s, White flight, changes on his block (Logan Street, between Liberty Avenue and Atlantic Avenue), East Brooklyn Churches and community organizing, the crack cocaine epidemic, police oppression, problems with school integration, and the importance of working together as a community despite racial and ethnic differences. The interview was conducted by Sarita Daftary-Steel at Davidson's home in East New York.

Biographical note

Gary Davidson was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1952 to second-generation German immigrant parents and spent the majority of his life in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. He continues to reside in the neighborhood in the house that his great-grandparents purchased in 1907, on Logan Street, between Liberty Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Davidson attended PS 65 and the High School of Art and Design, and served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He is an active member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and the Green Party.

Subjects

Organizations

East Brooklyn Congregations; Franklin K. Lane High School (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.); Nehemiah Housing; St. Peter's Lutheran Church (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

People

Davidson, Gary

Topics

Places

Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); East New York (New York, N.Y.) |x Social conditions; Logan Street (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

Davidson, Gary, 2014 June 10, inclusive