My Real Black Fire

Book excerpt: MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE "FDNY" THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE 1960'S AND 70'S WILL EXPOSE MUCH OF WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED. THE MANY HEROIC DEEDS, THE HISTORIC SYSTEMATIC CULTURAL RACISM, THE ETHNIC FAVORITISM, THE ACCEPTED GLORIFIED EMBELLISHMENTS, AND THE INDIFFERENCE THAT PREVAILED IN SOMANY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITIES DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THAT TIME. I NEVER ALLOWED MY FIREFIGHTER'S LIFE'S PURPOSE TO CONSIDER ONE'S GENDER, COLOR OR RELIGION TO PREVENT ME FROM STEPPING IN HARM'S DEADLY PATH, IN THE PRESERVATION OF A LIFE UNKNOWN TO ME. LT. BILL HIGH.., FDNY