My Three Books: A Life Journey by Raymond Henderson (Book)

 

Ray Henderson was born and raised in North Braddock and Braddock and has been a community activist since 1965. Beginning in the 1980s, Ray began collecting oral histories of African-American steelworkers. In 1996, he and longtime friend, filmmaker Tony Buba, co-produced and co-directed the award-winning film Struggles in Steel: A History of African-American Steelworkers.

 

The stories and poetry in My Three Books: A Life Journey document Ray Henderson’s memories and observations of his life journey in the Mon Valley towns of Braddock and North Braddock. After Ray came out of the military in the 60s, he began creating stories and poems about family, school, community, and work. Stories that he says, “Kept smacking me in the face. All based around the color of my skin.”

 

For Ray, what infuses his memories are the unspoken separation lines of racial segregation, especially during the 40s, 50s, and 60s – separation lines that haven’t gone away all these years later. Throughout the book, Ray ponders what it is that makes people who are facing similar hardships divide themselves by race. A question that he still hasn’t answered to his satisfaction to this day.

 

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