he Smith family had its own "new beginning" in 1947. On January 10th, I was born and expanded our family to four. My father described me as "a wrinkly little fellow, with droopy eyes and reddish hair."

Linda holding her baby brother, Freddie.

Life was sweet for my father in the early post-war years. He had the family he had always wanted, he was established in his career, and he and other blacks felt a new era was dawning for black people. Jackie Robinson's entry into baseball was symbolic of the opportunities that could unfold for black people, if they were ready to take advantage of them.

Six years earlier the country had retooled for war. In post-war 1947 black people were retooling their mind set to renew their battle for rights and opportunities long denied them. The skirmishes would start in the 50's; the major battles would take place in the 60's.