It's a tricky job to decide whether an event is a riot or a revolution, but Douglas Paetzell '09 (Madison N.J.) is ready to make the call. The event is the 1967 Newark riot, a six-day uproar touched off by a white police officer arresting and beating a black cab driver. Paetzell, a history and economics major, has received an Emerson Grant to research the effect of the riots upon the residents of Newark and investigate the federal actions which may have caused it.
With a median family income of $30,871, Newark ranks near the low end of the nation's economic statistics. Newark's economic troubles began in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began funding low-income housing projects for African Americans. As they moved into the city, white fear of falling property rates coupled with negative racial attitudes resulted in a growing "white flight" out of Newark.
Paetzell is doing both documentary and oral research. His reading concentrates on the history of the building projects, and includes a substantial amount of primary source documents such as civil rights studies, yearly finance reports, housing reports, and newspaper articles. One topic in which Paetzell is particularly interested is the culpability of the FHA. "I want to see if the federal housing policies, meant to provide affordable housing for destitute Americans, were the ultimate cause of the 1967 riots," he explained.
He is also interviewing a number of Newark residents who were present during the housing projects and riots. "This part of the research really fascinates me because of the varying opinions I receive from witnesses," Paetzell said. "For example, some people consider the events of 1967 as ruthless riots, while others consider this period a revolution to obtain higher standards of living."
He added that the research is showing him "the overpowering effect that racism played in the decay of Newark." Racism which occurred on the part of white Newark residents and, as Paetzell is beginning to conclude, also on the part of the federal government. "It's hard," he said. "For many Newark residents, the riots are still a really sensitive issue that they have some trouble talking about. It's difficult to truly put myself in their place."
This is Paetzell's first summer doing research. "I have the time to get an in-depth look at the issue," he explained. Like so many of his peers, he is enthusiastic about "the chance to pursue something that I find really fascinating" through his research. A member of HAVOC and an Alternative Spring break participant, Paetzell is a Hamiltonian dedicated to service. He hopes to work for a service-oriented group after Hamilton; "I really want to give back when I have the time to do so," he said.
Paetzell's research this summer is funded by the Emerson Foundation Grant Program, which provides students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty mentors, researching an area of mutual interest. This summer, Paetzell will be working with Visiting Instructor of History Christopher Hill. Recipients typically undertake some combination of fieldwork, laboratory investigation, library research and the development of teaching materials. A public presentation of their findings is required of all Emerson Scholars during the academic year.
-- by Lisbeth Redfield
With a median family income of $30,871, Newark ranks near the low end of the nation's economic statistics. Newark's economic troubles began in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began funding low-income housing projects for African Americans. As they moved into the city, white fear of falling property rates coupled with negative racial attitudes resulted in a growing "white flight" out of Newark.
Paetzell is doing both documentary and oral research. His reading concentrates on the history of the building projects, and includes a substantial amount of primary source documents such as civil rights studies, yearly finance reports, housing reports, and newspaper articles. One topic in which Paetzell is particularly interested is the culpability of the FHA. "I want to see if the federal housing policies, meant to provide affordable housing for destitute Americans, were the ultimate cause of the 1967 riots," he explained.
He is also interviewing a number of Newark residents who were present during the housing projects and riots. "This part of the research really fascinates me because of the varying opinions I receive from witnesses," Paetzell said. "For example, some people consider the events of 1967 as ruthless riots, while others consider this period a revolution to obtain higher standards of living."
He added that the research is showing him "the overpowering effect that racism played in the decay of Newark." Racism which occurred on the part of white Newark residents and, as Paetzell is beginning to conclude, also on the part of the federal government. "It's hard," he said. "For many Newark residents, the riots are still a really sensitive issue that they have some trouble talking about. It's difficult to truly put myself in their place."
This is Paetzell's first summer doing research. "I have the time to get an in-depth look at the issue," he explained. Like so many of his peers, he is enthusiastic about "the chance to pursue something that I find really fascinating" through his research. A member of HAVOC and an Alternative Spring break participant, Paetzell is a Hamiltonian dedicated to service. He hopes to work for a service-oriented group after Hamilton; "I really want to give back when I have the time to do so," he said.
Paetzell's research this summer is funded by the Emerson Foundation Grant Program, which provides students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty mentors, researching an area of mutual interest. This summer, Paetzell will be working with Visiting Instructor of History Christopher Hill. Recipients typically undertake some combination of fieldwork, laboratory investigation, library research and the development of teaching materials. A public presentation of their findings is required of all Emerson Scholars during the academic year.
-- by Lisbeth Redfield
