One Square Mile: The History of Roosevelt Ny from a Autobiographical Perspective

By Sheldon Parrish

This book is an historical book done from an autobiographical perspective about a small town called Roosevelt NY Located in Nassau County Roosevelt has seen great transition in race culture and economic aspects but still managed to produce such well knowns as Eddie Murphy, Julius Dr.J Erving, Chuck D (Public Enemy), Gabriel Cassius(film star and Producer) Steve White (Comedian) and many others.The author has had experiences with all these individuals as well as many others and has a compiled this project to bring those stories and the story of Roosevelt proper to engage readers . Please enjoy ONE Square Mile

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 12, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465315502

Sheldon Parrish

Sheldon Parrish pictured here in the early 1990’s as Football Coach of Roosevelt High School “Beyond The Wishing Well” is the second project by author Sheldon Parrish. This project is the follow up to the project, ”One Square Mile” his first project released in August of 2009. The author states that where the preceding project was from an “Autobiographical perspective” this project is more reflections of town residents and people who grew up in Roosevelt, NY. The book goes further to point out the diversity in talents and professions which claim the “One Square Mile” as it roots and place of nurturing. Things are quickly changing in this hamlet of Roosevelt and it was very important to the author to complete these books for posterity.

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Copyright © 2009 by Sheldon Parrish.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

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This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Introduction

In the Beginning

Organizations Pave the Way

D.A.D.S. for Education

Stars and Stories

Educators and Mentors

In Memorial

The Five Churches mentioned by Harry D. Daniels

as submitted by those churches

Sports and Band

Coaches Corner

Economic Forecast

News Clippings and Letters

In Conclusion

I start all work by putting God first:

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation

Whom Shall I Fear

The Lord is the Strength of My Life

Of Whom Shall I be Afraid.

Psalms 27:1

It is my story but May God take all the Glory!

A thousand shall fall by thy side, and ten thousand At thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psalms 91:7

DEDICATION

To My son Sir Damon Parrish:

Son, quiet as it is kept I was the one responsible for your name. I met a cousin back in the1960’s who was a radical black thinker during those times and he told me that in order to make sure that his son would always be respected by all men he named him Mister. After telling another cousin the story he also named his son Mister. Well son, by the time you rolled around the Mister thing had become redundant and so I searched for something just as powerful. Evidence of this was that day we were in Wal-Mart in Rock Hill, South Carolina and you had gone further ahead in the aisle and I called your name and the three men also in the aisle turned around only to see I was talking to you. You may or may not understand why, but reactions speak a thousand words.

I am writing this dedication just shortly after watching you graduate from high school. I have mixed feelings today, not because I don’t love you because I shall forever, but because of that the negativity which has been forced upon our relationship. I only hope that the missed hours as man and boy are more cherished as Mano Y Mano. I look forward to an unmanipulated relationship with you. I am proud of the path that originally curved and then you straightened it. This football season put us in the record books as the only father and son tandem to ever make All-County in football at Roosevelt and possibly the county.

AIC, which some people didn’t realize stood for, American International College, until I told them, will be all the better because of your well rounded personality and the intelligence you bring on an off the field. Good Luck, my son.

Since 1973 Parrish’s have either been players, cheerleaders or coaches and this year, as far we know, will mark the end of an era when Tasheem Granger steps on the field for his last football game. We have enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of something so big!

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I give all Honor and Glory to God. Secondly, I acknowledge my family for their never ending support. Beyond that there are so many people who have given some advice, interviewed and gave information, as well as made pictures and info available about love ones and associates for which I am truly thankful.

I would like to give separate recognition to a group of individuals who were there and supported this project from the onset. Mr. Walter Mackey Jr., Deacon Aaron Scott, Mr. James Hodges. Mr. Samuel Cason, Ms. Diane Robinson and Mrs. J. Sinton. I would also like to acknowledge Rev. Richard Warren, Mr. George A. Jones and Mr. George W Jones for their support and for making space available at the American Legion Post#1957 for interviews. I would like to also mention the time Mr. Gary Battle spent chronolizing events in video and Mr. Dowtin and Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Evans for there support early on.

Moreover, I would like to thank some people who helped me regain my health from illness that had challenged me during this project.These people gave me a plan for life in which to work with. Truly acting as vessels for God were Dr. Jeffrey Caruso, primary care physician and to Dr. J. Zisfein, Dr. Undavia and all the other doctors and support staff over at South Shore Heart Association of Rockville Centre, NY as well as the staff at the South Nassau Community Hospital.

Before I became serious about my diagnosis of heart disease there were some staff members who were real supportive over at Roosevelt High School. Mrs. Eloise Lloyd, Mrs. Mae Hines, Mrs. Annette Hall and the Culinary staff, Charmaine, Mrs. Brown, as well as my friends, Mrs. Hamasham, Mrs. H. Carr and Mr. Don Crummell.   

I have also been able to plug into my Coach, Dr. Robert Tucker as well as my comrade in arms Raymond Mattry on a daily basis (written before he transitioned) and I appreciate the many hours of support. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge friends and motivators attorney LM Brown and Ms. M. Sanders.

I am also saddened by the fact that my friend Mr. Walter Mackey Jr. transitioned before the completion of this project as well as Mother Dennis, long time member and Minister of music at Calvary Baptist Church and to my colleague and friend Ms. Regina Breland. May God continually grant them sweet rest.

And God please bless all those names mentioned hitherto and convert their efforts into seeds that you will bless to grow and may anyone that I may have overlooked be covered as well. In Jesus Name Amen.

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Parrish Collection

About the Author

Sheldon Parrish moved to Roosevelt with his parents Joe and Ernestine and two brothers, Terence and Todd in August of 1968 from Flushing, Queens NY. His father had come to watch a Roosevelt Varsity Football game with a friend back during the team’s undefeated reign (Roosevelt undefeated three years, one year untied, unscored upon (1966-68). His father had a vision of one day watching his sons have a great impact on this town called Roosevelt (Mostly athletic). He wasn’t far off in his vision as his sons have tried their best to have an effect on every level, first as players, then coaches and mentors.

The vision started with a move to a house right across the street from Roosevelt Park now known as Rev. Arthur L. Mackey Sr. Park. The family had been to see a house over on Denton, right outside the High school gate. They were all glad that house was not the final choice. The guys now realize that would have meant cleaning up after the daily after school fights that have gone on for years. The Parrish’s came closer to living on Sherman Avenue but their father and his mother envisioned the three boys’ growth completely sucking up the floor plan. Then, there it was, sitting on top of a hill overlooking the park.

The acquisition of this home on Elmwood Ave. started the beginning of a long relationship between this family and Roosevelt.

The oldest son, Sheldon first attended Centennial Avenue School (formerly Quentin Roosevelt), located on West Centennial (West of Nassau Road) the last year of the forced Busing plan. The following year Sheldon attended Theodore Roosevelt (now Ulysses Byas).

Junior High School brought about some memorable experiences in education such as Split-sessions, a teacher’s strike and a riot. Split-sessions meant that the High School started at 7:10 am and finished their day by 1pm while the Junior High started at 11:30 am and ended at 4:30 pm. School was closed for a couple weeks due to a teacher’s strike that got interesting because of the scabs that crossed the picket lines. He also specifically remembered being in Mrs. Levenbrown’s Social Studies class in Room 206 when the door busted open and he was told he’d better get up out of his seat and join the enormously huge group already assembled in the hallway. The teacher had forbidden the students from leaving the room that day on the threat of calling a parent. That day Sheldon decided that his parents couldn’t have beaten him as bad as this group, and still love him so he decided he would take his chances at home.

Always to large to play PBC/PAL, he began playing football at Roosevelt High in the 9th grade and that was the beginning of a great high school career culminating in a Captainship, Championship and College Scholarship. He played Varsity Football at Division I Colgate University where he was the only freshman to make the traveling team and after majoring in Economics with a Minor in Education, he returned to Roosevelt.

He originally planned on working on Wall Street, but when he found out that, unlike most of his white colleagues, he would have to start his Management Trainee Program in the mailroom, he looked for another direction. The cost of a Long Island Railroad ticket made that level of salary unbearable.

The principal at that time, Dr. Phillip Smith told him that his home school district needed him and he invited Sheldon to come back. Work experiences, summers and social experiences as well as being an active town person has led to a wealth of knowledge about a town off Exit 21 of the Southern State Parkway. Sheldon might be one of a few people that can boast personal experiences with Eddie Murphy, Julius Erving, Chuck D as well as Steve White and Gabriel Cassius. All megastars in their own right.

The author hopes that his version of the history respectfully separates itself from other accounts due to the autobiographical nature of its contents.

Introduction

This project was not the original reason for my trip to the Roosevelt Public Library that summer day in 2006. I was attempting to obtain a very viable piece of history that would contain the pride and the essence of the very town that I grew up in. The completion of my other project about the Roosevelt School District would now be held in abeyance on account of my great disappointment with what had originally been rendered as the history of Roosevelt. While reading it, my emotions boiled as the contents ended in the year 1960 and chronicled very little about African-Americans living in the town. The year 1960 is also synonymous with the white flight from town. Not symbolic of the deepest sweat African-Americans bore to make this a town one filled with deep conviction and pride.

When discovering the author’s name, Harry D. Daniels, I must admit that I was moved to lead a petition to have his name taken off our school building but then I thought of how Ms. Charthern, Principal of the school, had turned the school into a beacon of ethnocentricity; and I figured wherever ole’ Harry D. is, he is having quite an unsettling experience. It would be a small issue to call his views pro white.

Some individuals tried to persuade me to get huge bits of information out of pieces already published. There is some data online, there are some projects written by authors who never lived within the town and most of their information is at least, second-hand. At some point, I will reflect on published quotes because I would like to give honor where honor is due, but it is more my intent to interview as many people as possible to get an actual account as well as reflect on my autobiographical experience which started in 1968. It would appear to me that one who has lived in and among would be a better source then one who never lived but studied about. Whew!

The historical overview by Harry D. Daniels dated December 4, 1960 says that Roosevelt’s 1,006 acres was known to early Hempstead settlers as the Great South Woods. Its natural advantages and geographical position (LIE to the Sea) drew house seekers even early on. This town is and has been an important stopping point between Hempstead, Merrick and Babylon. Trade flowed along this road between shore points and the marketing capital of that time as Harry. D. Daniels so eloquently states.

I am afraid though that in the end it will be this benefit that will victimize Roosevelt at the hands of gentrification. If I may quote my colleague and fellow classmate Seretta McKnight, In the ‘sixties’ the white landowners forgot one thing that has haunted them repeatedly, Never give up the land.

It appears that African-Americans were not present during the first 300 years or so of this town’s history. In a piece called African-Americans of Western Long Island by Jerry Komia Domatob he states As with all Long Island communities it is difficult to establish the exact date when the first African-Americans settled in Roosevelt. As a new spirit permeated the area, land developers took advantage of the location and built houses which they advertised in the African-American Newspapers after KKK activity died down. While speaking with three distinguished gentleman who date back to the thirties Jim Hodges, Walter Mackey Jr. and Samuel Cason, it was revealed that during those times we (People of Color) still had to be off Nassau Road by nightfall or risk personal injury or death. Yes, Roosevelt was a Sundown Town.

One thing we are sure of though is that shortly after 1960, after the marches on Nassau Road and civil unrest Roosevelt became a predominantly African-American town.

In the Beginning

In 1643 the Great South Woods was of course, a wooded area which also included a few farms. The land was being possessed by an Indian tribe called the Merricks. Some colonists from England, (in one account, they are said to be from a town called Hemel-Hemstead another account says Hartsfordshire;) came here by way of Stamford, Connecticut where they lived until religious intolerance and boundary disputes forced their decision to cross the Long Island Sound, says Marquita James Nassau Community College, Professor. Reverend Robert Fordham and John Cramer were said to have been the leaders of this group of settlers. After landing the settlers used different techniques to wrestle the land from the Indians. They even enacted a law that read "By general vote it is so ordered that no person or persons inhabiting within the town or liberties there of, shall plow or break up any planting land for the Indians, nor shall in any way assist them therein under the penalty, forfeiting for every day or part of a