Code 77: A Report from Watts

The looted stores are still vacant and the burned-out ones still heaps of rubble. But an ironic and ludicrous quality pervades Watts, for hoardes of investigators, analysts and reporters have descended upon the area with clip boards, tape recorders and questionnaires. At times it seems as if the temporary investigative population of the area outnumbers the real residents.

The Negroes have learned to give “proper responses.” Yes, they are bitter, yes, they are resentful, yes, they are the products of a matriarchal family structure in which no work-oriented father image has existed, yes, they aspire to participate in a new value structure and yes, you dumb white motherfuckers, if you keep asking me these damn fool questions, I’ll keep giving you these damn fool answers.

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