1. Hunter was James’ stepfather. He worked as a furnace fireman for the New York City Housing Authority. He fixed and maintained boilers. These boilers were what heated the Red Hook Housing Projects where James and his family lived.
2. James’ real father, Andrew McBride, died before he was born. Throughout his life James saw his stepfather as his father. James and his other younger siblings knew him as “Daddy”. The middle children referred to him as “Daddy” or “Mr. Hunter” and the oldest group of siblings called him “Mr. Hunter”, remembering their biological father well.
3. Hunter spent his life savings to buy his family a nice house. When he brought his family to the new home, all the children began destroying the front yard. They didn’t …show more content…
James’ stepfather and mother had very similar priorities. Like Ruth, Hunter’s main concerns with his children were grades and church. Religion and education were the things at the front of both of the parents’ minds. He went to James’ confirmation and left once someone tried to make conversation with him.
6. James’ stepfather loved his house in Brooklyn and had spent a great deal of time renovating it. In 1969, the city bought the house from him. They gave him $13,000 and he left. The city knocked down the house, planning to build low-income-housing there. The housing was never built though, the empty lot going to waste.
7. When James was 14 his stepfather had a stroke. He had been in the hospital for two weeks when James visited him. James had avoided visiting him because he didn’t want to see his stepfather in pain and dying. When James saw him in the hospital he staggered out of the room, wiping his tears. He couldn’t handle the sight of his stepfather looking so weak.
8. Like his mother, James’ stepfather rarely mentioned race. The only time James heard him refer to race was when he said “Y’all are special, and just so special to me.” He told this to James because he was dying. James was the oldest child living at home and Hunter wanted him to watch out for Ruth and his little
2. James’ real father, Andrew McBride, died before he was born. Throughout his life James saw his stepfather as his father. James and his other younger siblings knew him as “Daddy”. The middle children referred to him as “Daddy” or “Mr. Hunter” and the oldest group of siblings called him “Mr. Hunter”, remembering their biological father well.
3. Hunter spent his life savings to buy his family a nice house. When he brought his family to the new home, all the children began destroying the front yard. They didn’t …show more content…
James’ stepfather and mother had very similar priorities. Like Ruth, Hunter’s main concerns with his children were grades and church. Religion and education were the things at the front of both of the parents’ minds. He went to James’ confirmation and left once someone tried to make conversation with him.
6. James’ stepfather loved his house in Brooklyn and had spent a great deal of time renovating it. In 1969, the city bought the house from him. They gave him $13,000 and he left. The city knocked down the house, planning to build low-income-housing there. The housing was never built though, the empty lot going to waste.
7. When James was 14 his stepfather had a stroke. He had been in the hospital for two weeks when James visited him. James had avoided visiting him because he didn’t want to see his stepfather in pain and dying. When James saw him in the hospital he staggered out of the room, wiping his tears. He couldn’t handle the sight of his stepfather looking so weak.
8. Like his mother, James’ stepfather rarely mentioned race. The only time James heard him refer to race was when he said “Y’all are special, and just so special to me.” He told this to James because he was dying. James was the oldest child living at home and Hunter wanted him to watch out for Ruth and his little