I was a working class Italian American kid growing up in conservative and overwhelmingly white Staten Island, New York, in the 1950’s-60’s. My neighborhood, New Brighton, was an integrated neighborhood. It was inhabited by mainly people of Italian and Polish decent, and Black people. We all got along. My own history has taught me that diversity is a strength and not something to fear.

I was a high school dropout who later got a General Education Development program (GED) certificate. I was able to attend college for free because Black and Hispanic students organized a movement for, and won, Open Admissions at City University of New York (CUNY).