b"Do you think the school was set up to bring more African Americans and Latinos to the title to address theimbalance? Yeah, but the powers that be at that time didn't want too many Black or Latinos.What does it mean to you to be a union member?This union does a lot of things that other unions don't do. It's great. I think I been coming maybe three or four years.I have a ball every time I come. I haven't been on any of their trips, but the rest of the stuff. Ive been to the theatre. I likedthe camera club. The jazz thing is nice, the tai chi is nice.What year did you retire?2006. I was 63 and Im 73 nowI was just so glad to get out. After 23 years, I couldn't do it anymore. I didn't have to get up in that rain and sleet andthe snow every morning, wait by the bus. It a long commute. I live 15 miles out of Jamaica, Queens. But I was always ontime when I went to work. I take the N6 bus to Jamaica, then I walked to the J train, then I take the J train into Brooklyn.Is the commute part of the thing that you're really glad not to do anymore? Like I said, I had fun, I enjoyed working with everybody and I hope they enjoyed working with me. Can you tell us about your background?I was born at Harlem Hospital. I lived in Harlem until I was a little baby. I moved to Corona and after Corona I movedto Nassau County, Hempstead. I think my parents wanted to make a better life for me, my two brothers and one sister. I was next to the oldest. Then I got a sister, then I got a brother who's younger.Did you go to the public schools in Hempstead?Yeah, my oldest brother didn't. He was much older than we were. But I went to the public schools in Hempstead.What was your first job? I worked at a place, where they made pillows. It was sewing and stuffing. It was a couple blocks from where I live.I was 16, in high school. I think I did that on Saturdays or Sundays, I don't remember, it's been so long.What were some other jobs you held?I worked in a restaurant. I even went to cooking school when I was in Housing. I was a short-order cook, I was a frycook, I was a salad man, I was a pantry man. I worked at Cookys, I worked at Alexander's, I worked at Macy's, I worked at a concession down by the pier.Which pier?The pier where you get the Circle Line.163 "