50 Years Before Crack

"Angela's Ashes" tells of life in Ireland in the mid-twentieth century, as seen through the eyes of a poor boy. "Fifty Years Before Crack" describes the culture of blue-collar Baltimore during that same period, fifty years before crack cocaine distribution became the principal industry. In an era before credit cards, two-car garages, shopping malls, mutual funds, designer jeans, Little Leagues, TV, PCs and civil rights legislation; boys earned pennies to supplement family income, parents believed the word of adults rather than that of their children, and the kids had a knack for entertaining themselves without adult involvement. It also was a time when politicians were servants of the people rather than being self-serving, and teachers, pastors, police and lawyers were held in high esteem.