Disciplines
Jewish Studies
Abstract
This interview explores Dorothy's childhood and education, focusing on her experiences growing up in the Bronx during the 1950s and 1960s. Dorothy provides a detailed account of her neighborhood, the games she played with her friends, and the shops she frequented. She also discusses the diverse nature of her community and the lack of racial or religious tensions she witnessed. Dorothy vividly recalls her childhood on Weeks Avenue in the Bronx, describing it as a mixed neighborhood with people of all faiths and nationalities. She fondly remembers the games she and her friends played in the streets, including stickball, Scully, Ring Elevio, and Johnny on the Pony. These games, she notes, were a testament to the social nature of her childhood, where children spent their days outdoors and interacting with each other.
Dorothy attended public schools throughout her education, from elementary school to college. She highlights the rigor of her education, particularly in grammar and literature, and the high expectations placed on students. She also discusses her involvement in extracurricular activities, including theater, yearbook production, and a small singing group. Dorothy acknowledges the different expectations placed on girls and boys during her youth. She recounts instances where she was steered towards traditional female roles, such as teaching, and how her friend Lynn was denied the opportunity to learn about her father's diamond business simply because she was a girl. However, she also emphasizes that her parents never explicitly discouraged her from pursuing her ambitions. Despite this, her father's strong belief in the importance of a practical career led to a conflict when Dorothy declared a theater major in college. Dorothy describes the gradual shift in her neighborhood during the late 1960s and early 1970s, as white flight led to a change in the community's demographics and an increase in crime. This ultimately prompted her parents to move to Riverdale, a safer and more affluent neighborhood within the Bronx.
Dorothy reflects on the differences between her education and that of her son, noting a shift in curriculum and a perceived decline in the emphasis on grammar and rigorous academics. She also expresses concern about how history is taught in public schools, arguing that a more comprehensive and honest portrayal of America's past is crucial.
Recommended Citation
Bazrafkan, Negin Nader, "Varon, Dorothy" (2024). Bronx Jewish History Project. 72.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/bjhp/72
