Watts Riot, Los Angeles, CA 1965

In August 1965, we lived at 614 W. 79th St. in Los Angeles, CA. It was a house that we bought for cheap and it needed to be totally remodeled. Our step dad, Ben Kirkland took many years remodeling it from top to bottom, back to front. It was a nice house with a smaller house in the back. We rented out the house in the back to a couple named Tony and Dora.

Here is the outside of our house and pretty close to just before we moved.

I remember my mom working on the weekends and me and my sister always being watched by our step dad, Ben. On this particular weekend, we were going to the horse races at Del Mar race track, located in the town of Del Mar, CA about 20 miles north of the city of San Diego, CA. I also remember the whole drive there, which was about a 100 mile drive, there were military vehicles driving north, while we were driving south. We never thought anything of it, my sister and I, but that doesn't mean that our step dad wasn't thinking about it.

After arriving home that evening, I remember us pulling into the driveway and Ben saying to us, "now, I'm going to go unlock the front door and when I wave to you, both of you get out of the car as fast as you can and run up to the house." HUH? Why? I was only 7 years old and had no idea what that meant, I just know that I was scared as heck.

As soon as my mom got home from work, we packed clothes into the car and left. We went and stayed with some very close family friends, named Alma and Syd. They lived in Los Angeles but a different part of L.A. that wasn't involved in the Watts Riot. Ben had to go back to the house to board up the windows so nothing would happen to our house. He also had to go to work everyday and Syd would drive with him and when they were stopped by rioters, Syd would tell them it was okay, that he was a brother. This was the only way our step dad could go to work.

I remember having to drive through the area of the riot and there were military personnel standing on all the corners with their rifles. When we came to a corner, one motioned for us to open our window. When we rolled our window down, he said to "turn right or get shot!" Holy cow, was I scared shitless!! Needless to say, he probably wouldn't have shot us, but I thought he would, because that's what he said.

After the riots subsided, we were able to move back home, but nothing was ever the same. I remember living there for a few more years. In 1967, I moved from Manchester Ave. school to First Brethren School, located in Inglewood, for 4th and half of 5th grade. I suppose it was due to me and my sister getting picked on all the time.

I believe this was my 4th and 5th grade picture, while I was attending First Brethren.


At the end of 1968 or beginning of 1969, we moved to Torrance, to Delia Ave. We lost everything that was ever put into that house. We sold it for practically nothing. From that point on, we never owned another house.