Peekskill USA: Inside the Infamous 1949 Riots

by Howard Fast

In the late summer of 1949, a racist mob in upstate New York fiercely assaulted working class blacks and whites at an outdoor concert featuring African-American singer Paul Robeson. Howard Fast, a noted American novelist, was vacationing in the Peekskill area at the time and was appointed chairman of the concert. He was at the scene when concert-goers were attacked by men throwing broken bottles and rocks; swinging clubs and fence posts; and wielding knives and brass knuckles. Shouting racial epithets, the mob was held off only by a show of black and white unity.
Fast was not only an eyewitness to these frightening events, but also, in each of two separate incidents was one the participants. His trained reporter’s eye and narrative skill produced this compelling and detailed you-are-there account of the violence. The present edition recalls that long-forgotten incident—recognized today as a milestone in the civil rights movement.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2006

About the author

Howard Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.

Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham

Reviews

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Întâmplarea a făcut ca în August 1949, şi eu şi soţia mea să ne luăm. În sfârşit, vacanţa de care aveam atâta nevoie. Soţia mea a plecat în Europa, iar eu am închiriat o casă la Croton – pe
fluviul Hudson, la vreo zece kilometri depărtare de Peekskill – pentru mine, cei doi copii ai noştri şi îngrijitoarea lor. Eram pe atunci preocupat de un studiu asupra legăturii dintre literatură şi realitate, şi simţeam nevoia să închin o lună de zile acestei munci, precum şi copiilor mei – departe de vârtejul activităţii politice, activitate care luase un loc atât de important în viaţa mea. Eram convins că această vacanţă îmi va face bine din toate punctele de vedere.
Nu m-am înşelat. Această lună August era liniştită şi răcoroasă; cu multe zile însorite şi cu multe ore plăcute, iar pentru mine, toate acestea constituiau o schimbare foarte binevenită. Casa pe care o închiriasem, confortabilă şi spaţioasă, era situată pe un deal printre copaci. De la etaj se putea vedea fluviul Hudson. Obişnuiam să lucrez la studiul meu dimineaţa, în timp ce copiii se jucau pe pajişte. După amiezile le petreceam cu ei şi de obicei ne duceam la un iaz din apropiere ca să înotăm. Masa de seară o luam împreună, şi după ce copiii adormeau, rămâneam în fiecare seară acasă, citind şi foarte rareori stând de vorbă cu nişte prieteni care mă vizitau. După cum am mai spus, au fost câteva săptămâni foarte calme şi fructuoase: citeam mult şi studiul meu lua forma definitivă.
Într-o zi, pe la mijlocul lunii, sună telefonul şi când ridic receptorul, o voce de femeie mă întreabă dacă eu sunt Howard Fast şi dacă aş consimţi să patronez un concert care ar trebui să aibă loc undeva, în apropiere, peste câteva săptămâni.
— Ce fel de concert? am întrebat eu.
— Un concert pe care îl organizăm noi în fiecare an.
— Care noi? întreb eu.
— Noi, gruparea „People’s Artists”. Îşi vor da concursul Pete Seeger şi Paul Robeson. Aţi auzit de gruparea noastră?

[Sugarpuss O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being able to view history through the eyes of someone who was there when it happened is an extraordinary gift. This is what Mr Fast gives his audience: a first-hand look at the terror that unfolded in Peekskill, NY, late August/early September 1949. This is also another example that shatters the myth that racism only lived in the South. Hardly. The North just didn't codify its discrimination into law (for the most part, anyway). Unfortunately, the forces that Mr Fast & his cohorts faced are still alive and well here in 2026; the labels have just changed. Makes me wonder what he would think of the times we live in today. At least he has his granddaughter carrying on the fight.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A reasonable primary source on the event from a skilled narrator and dialog writer. The source offered few corroborating sources and the dialog became purple and florid. The conversation about race relations needs to be taken in historical context and can be a bit jarring or confusing at times.

[Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame!