Detroit Michigan, July, 1973. Five young friends on a rainy day in Downtown Mount Clemens. What distinguishes it are its subjects: three black children, two white ones, giggling in each other’s arms. (Photo by Joseph Crachiola)

This is the true America that I grew up in and we need to go back. One of my neighbors was a black family whose house was right behind mine. I ate dinner there, I played there, and I was welcome in their house anytime, as they were in mine. We had a totally diverse neighborhood. White, black, Polish, Jews, German, Italian, Irish, French, even a family from Newfoundland. (Yes, really.) I can name every one of them. We were all friends, no racism, no prejudices. I was born during WWII. I’m a Jew. One family down the street from me, the Bakers, were German. Seventy-five years later, Paul Baker and I are still friends.

Unfortunately, there are racists and they’re in every county on earth. I did some research and found what I thought was correct, the U.S. is one of the least racist countries in the world. There is always going to be some racism and it’s never going to change. What we see going on in our Country today is overblown and uncalled for. It’s caused by radicals and it’s an opportunity for them to tear our country in half. Sadly, we’re letting it happen. Americans need to stand up to the rioters and stop the carnage before it’s too late and it can’t be stopped. Tell your friends to get off the streets, stop helping the radicals destroy our Country. Protest with your votes and protest peacefully. Bring your children up to love everyone. Try loving your neighbors and you’ll see how fast things change for the better.