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Booktalk
Author speaks on Civil War

Kevin Baker, author of “Paradise Alley: A Novel,” began his book talk Oct. 27 with the quote that ends the movie, “Gangs of New York.” “For the rest of time, it will be like no one ever knew we was here,” says Leonardo DiCaprio as a young Irish-American New Yorker.

As Mr. Baker explored the hidden history of the Civil War draft riots, he and his audience of 80 at DC 37 grappled with a paradox: How is it that for five days, New Yorkers rioted, beat, burned and lynched their fellow New Yorkers, and yet we know nothing about it?

Participants at the event, sponsored by the Authors Talk Committee of the union’s Education Fund, learned that in 1863, there were only about 12,000 African Americans living in the city. Irish immigrants, the city’s first entrenched underclass, hated the draft and feared that recently freed slaves would come north and displace them from their low-paid jobs.

Battles in the streets
“You can’t talk about the history of the Irish without talking about African Americans,” said Mr. Baker as he des- cribed the events that unfolded over five days in July.

“There were pitched battles with barricades in the streets. The riot was full of shameful deeds. The worst of all was the mob action against African Americans, which included burning the Colored Orphans’ Asylum to the ground,” he said.

Historical activist Bill Jones spoke movingly about the orphans’ shelter: “I’ve made it a task in my life to get some type of recognition for it. When it was destroyed, its function was absorbed by the Harlem Dowling Center. I’m appalled by the fact that this occurred right here in the city.”

Melba Butler, director of the Dowling Center, said: “I think I got a fine education in New York City, yet we never learned about this chapter of history.”

Mr. Baker said he never read about the draft riots until his father gave him Herbert Asbury’s book, “Gangs of New York.” “It’s one of the most sordid chapters in New York City history,” he said.

His book is available in the Education Fund Library on the second floor at DC 37. Members seeking even more information should read “The New York City Draft Riots” by historian Iver Bernstein.