Feature film: Spinney Hill, The African American History of Manhasset & Great Neck 

I want to thank everyone involved in this film for creating this important oral history of Spinney Hill. I grew up on the white side of Manhasset from 1954-1968 and witnessed the segregation of neighborhoods, schools, and churches. There was a pain in my child’s heart, as I heard white adults discuss their efforts to keep neighborhoods segregated, as I saw the one African American family in our church always sit in the rear row without anyone speaking to them, as I sat next to Martha Washington in school knowing my Southern mother would never allow me to invite her to my birthday parties. Your documentary shares the vibrancy of the Spinney Hill community and people’s commitment to youth and to the arts. I left before “urban redevelopment” did its ugly work of erasing Black businesses. I have studied that process through Mindi Fullilove’s work (Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurt America and What We Can Do About It), without realizing that it had happened in my own hometown. History does indeed bend slowly “toward the arc of justice.” A few days before my mother died, as she sifted through her life, the one regret she aired was about Martha: “It just wasn’t right my not inviting her.” I learned from Manhasset about the kinds of divisions I did not want to live within as an adult. What I couldn’t learn without your film was what was happening on the other side. Thank you.

Thank You so very much for sharing this wonderful part of my 'hometown' ...so many of the faces and places of my youth! My next book, has a working title of Plandome Road... its only taken a pandemic, 5+ decades and the kind cattle-prod of my publishers to get it near-ready. My hat's off to the folks who took the time, to tell the tale of Spinny Hill for generations to come...Thanks!

I grew up in Great Neck and remember this area well. I went to the Catholic grade school St Aloysious and there were a few people on my bus ride in that were from Spinney Hill. I remember a few occasions of racial tension, but overall, most people got along and I remember the kids that I knew fondly. Later on in life I got a job in the electric and gas company and read meters in Spinney Hill. I got bit by a dog there too. The only such incident on my career there doing that job. These folks in this film are so nice to listen to and my heart echoes with their stories as though they were family to me. I know this may sound odd from a guy like me, but they remind me of my own ancestors and family who have their own pride and dignity and well worthy of having this history preserved and passed on. I just hope that young people are interested in our shared history. It needs to be remembered.

Very informative. Segregated communities still exist, high taxes and limited bus routes in most Long island communities keep a divide between class and equal social, economic, and Yes the education system. I have viewed this clip twice and it is wonderful that history can continue. Many of my students are not aware of redlining, gentrification, and such. The US and its actors must bridge the gap between how the education system as a whole is broken. I say to all, stimulate your economic and education growth by learning thru higher education. Remember the power of our voting rights, the power of our voice......

Thanks for sharing. Informative.

Great job! So much history and glad to know my family was a part of it. From my Uncle Charles Hudson at the Silver Star to seeing my grandfather Ned Gray who worked for the school district in one of the photos seen in reference to the school integration. My heart is overjoyed to know that our history is archived. Job well done!

Very well done! I learned a lot!

I used to be in Spinny Hill all the time ... I had Rev. Corley for social studies at great neck south senior in 1983 he was a sweet gentle and intelligent man !!!!

Great work recording our history continue the great work before the witnesses are all gone

Lloyd - great job - really awesome

Thank you so much for sharing. My Dad told me about this time in our history that he lived through.

My mother, Mrs. Dorothy Lomax Peters was instrumental in the E.O.C. program from it's inception, ultimately becoming the Executive Director. It would be nice to have a commemoration of her efforts over the 5 decades she gave in service to the community.

Thanks Henry very interesting

Great documentary, thanks for doing this good work and preserving this important history. I grew up in Great Neck in the 1960s and was unaware of much of what was shared here, although my mom was active in the civil rights movement and took me on protest marches with her. I do remember the court case in 1964, but as an 11 year old white Jewish kid, the gravity of it didn't really sink in until much later, and of course it is wonderful to hear the story told by those who lived it. Sad to think that we have not made much progress in fifty years, racism is still so prevalent in America.

My “Cuz” Reverend Corley!

It was nice to see Ruth Patillo getting the praise she deserved.

Excellent and informative documentary. Very well done and gives a unique perspective of a time lost. Thank you for sharing this with your viewers from a new subscriber.

My cousin lived in Pond View homes on High st 52 High street in the 70's I fished at Whitney pond park

My brother's dad was Herman Jackson aka POPA JACK owned a deli on the corner of Allen drive and Northern Blvd. Across from hotel james❤

I grew up on Manor Dr and also High Court across from the park. Living there in that community and going to St. Aloysius were some of the best times of my life. What a great community. Great job Dedrick (Sled) and all involved!

I grew up in Great Neck in what was to me the heart of the Black community in that town. I lived at 800 Middle Neck Road, the Academy Garden Apartments from 1964 until 1973. As a child I saw the apartment complex change from a completely White community to an almost completely Black one in a matter of only a few years after the passing of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. The first Black people to move in were a family named Mason. I knew their son, Alvin, and they were good people. After that, all the whites started moving out. My family stayed because we couldn't afford to go anywhere else. I have lots of stories and memories about those years, some good and some bad. But I will leave you with just one. In 1973, my father got in trouble with the law. The police came and knocked down our door, searched our apartment and took my father away. After hours of answering questions from detectives, the police finally left. In despair, my siblings and I were huddled around our mother, scared and wondering how we were going to get through this. In the silence that followed there was suddenly a knock on the door. Fearing yet another policeman asking yet more questions, I went with my mother to see who was there. To our surprise, there was middle aged Black woman in a cotton dress with a scarf around her hair standing in front of us. She was holding an envelope. She told my mother the other tenants had heard what had happened to my father and knowing that she had four children to care for, they went around and collected money for us. She then handed my mother the envelope which contained $57.00 in mostly one dollar bills and change. My mother started to cry and hugged the woman and then they both began to cry together. It was a sublime moment that transcended race and any other meaningless difference. This selfless act of kindness by the Black community towards a White family is something I will never forget. People who had almost nothing gave what they could to help my mom and I will forever be grateful.

My mother lived in Great Neck in the 1950s. She was from the Netherlands. Her father was a dutch diplomat.

What was the Year time frame" when they started the urban redevelopment on Northern Blvd? By the way, thank you for this video, I grew up on Spinney Hill and knew nothing about its history until watching this documentary. This was eye-opening​.

I knew James Gore, his mother's name was Ida Gore❤

Andrew! Is this it?