Member-only story
Music Made My Grandfather an Anti-Racist
We should find unifying things like music to end racial distancing
My grandfather was born on December 18, 1910, in Toledo, Ohio.
He excelled so much in school that by the time he was 20. He already was applying to dental schools.
Ohio State was not yet admitting Jews in early 1930s, but Grandpa’s grades were so good he became one of the first, if not the first, Jews to attend Ohio State’s School of Dentistry.
Up until this point, because educational opportunities in the U.S. were limited for Jews, many went into entertainment, or they boxed, played basketball, started garment businesses ,or even joined gangs in places like New York, Philly, St. Louis and Chicago. Grandpa’s own father, my great-grandfather Harris, was a tailor.
It’s the reason Jews created the prestigious Brandeis University. So Jews could go to college.
Grandpa graduated dental school with honors in 1933 and moved back to Toledo to begin his career. He eventually became known as one of the top dentists in the city.
But as successful as he was, dentistry was just his vocation.
His real passion was music.
