Race Relations in America

1975. Geraldo Rivera on his Good Night America program goes on the streets and on the block in Harlem, Manhattan U.S.A. Of NYC's roughly 300 street gangs 36 find their homes in Harlem. Drugs, alcoholism, criminality, these issues haunt all parts of America but it is the poor, especially in the poorest areas, that feel their effects most acutely. As James Baldwin once said, "Walk down any street in Harlem and see what we, this nation, have become."

Around this period of time occurred what is sometimes called 'The Heroin Epidemic'.

In 2025, Harlem is a much safer place than it once was. The neighborhood as a whole suffers an average 80%+ higher crime rate than the rest of the country, about 40% higher than the rest of New York City.

Some of the original music in this historical segment has been replaced.

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May 24, 1995. Geraldo Rivera's namesake talk show brings us the latest trend of white girls and black men, those who are in it for sex status and style.

"They're always talkin 'bout you're taking our men or whatever, I consider it all to be jealousy, it's all jealousy..."

The several girls in studio begin by describing their reasons for preferring to date interracial. Generally they consider the white man to be goofy and trying too hard, black guys are more down for their girls. We hear from the audience, and then the boyfriends come in studio. One of them, Jamie, claims white women are just a convenience he doesn't intend on being with one long term.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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July 3rd, 1990. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show hosts a panel of notable community members to discuss race relations both in New York City and acrosst he nation. How would you ease racial tensions?

"Roy Innis do you consider Reverend Sharpton to be part of the solution to racial problems ... in this nation, or part of the problem?"

In addition to Roy and Al the panel includes C Vernon mason an ally of Mr. Sharpton, Stephen Murphy a very public attorney defending white youths, Collin Moore an attorney who represents racial victims, Baek Cho owner of a Korean supermarket and Harriet Bogart of the ADL.

This show takes places during the events of the "Family Red Apple Boycott", where a Haitian woman was allegedly assaulted by a Korean shopkeeper. The boycott lasted 18 months.

This day in Geraldo's television history.

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July 27th, 1992. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk reminds us of his own personal cultural background, before we get to the story of the day: interracial couples and the pressures they can be under.

"Race is America's dirty little secret folks. Don't like to talk about it, but the racial tension....thicker than fog."

We move on to meet Shaun, who doesn't like when white girls lose their identity and act like a black person. Mom speaks out about being cut off from family for marrying a black man.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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May 14th, 1996. Geraldo Rivera's namesake talk show discusses white skin privilege as well as the personal issues between friends of different races.

"What we've accomplished, they think they're better. That a white woman would say I don't....black people have never been that lucky."

Charmaine Jones tells why black women should be with black men, the sisters support the brothers. Julianne Malveaux Phd talks about how black women are the lowest on the social totem pole at the start. Another woman says she has no problem with interracial dating but has seen children suffer from having parents of two different races. She says it's up to white and black women to bridge the gap.

Midge Wilson author of Divided Sisters, Deborah Mitchell Geraldo's Supervising Producer as well as several guests who are best friends with members of the opposite race fill out the set.

This day, Geraldo's Television History.

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January 25th, 1995. Geraldo Rivera on his namesake talk show brings us this segment on black men on the hook for crimes they did not commit.

"So we picked out I said look, just keep it tight have 2 people...kicked in the door...kicked her...took all the S**T...."

Shortly into the clip we meet 'Lucky', a criminal white man who says it's easy to blame his terrible crimes on blacks. After a few minutes with this sorry character we meet Dr Earl Hutchinson, PHd as he describes America's negative image of young black men.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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"It's only the people without tomorrow that can do violence to today."

1992. Geraldo Rivera is on the Arsenio Hall show in the time-frame of the Los Angeles riots, with unrest intensifying after a jury acquits 4 officers who beat and arrested Rodney King. The conversation moves on to the riots, what was going on with police chief Daryl Gates, who claimed not to know what was going on? Is blaming the media for sensationalizing blaming the messenger? How is it possible that 15 helicopters can be filming someone getting beaten to death and authorities are nowhere to stop the violence?

This is a very interesting segment between Arsenio and Geraldo, moving into politics and the state of the country. Can the country solve its race problem?

"...the string that connects the people of the inner city to the system, is a tiny fragile string right now..."

"... why are they not talking about what is obvious to everybody? That every day that goes by, the inner city gets poorer..."

"...usually, the violence and the chaos is confined to the inner city, and usually it doesn't make the evening news. Now it's spilled over.."

Later in the segment Geraldo talks about his book Exposing Myself, of which the proceeds were donated to help a class from Harlem go to college.

The L.A. riots continued for six days and were tempered when the California national guard and United States military deployed troops to stop the violence. Inner city strife continues to be a major issue in urban centers across the country.

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May 4th, 1992. Geraldo Rivera's Now It Can Be Told program brings us insight into the riots gripping America after no justice is found.

"Ask any New Yorker the man most likely to light the fuse, and they'd probably say the Reverend Al Sharpton, who critics call the 250 pound time bomb..."

This program starts in Los Angeles viewing the aftermath of the riots, with words from Edward James Olmos who has been out on the streets trying to help. Residents, victims and national guard members are seen along with the destruction in that city. As America braces, is New York next? We move to a report on Al Sharpton's response to this crisis including fiery speeches and contentious debates. Will the Reverend be responsible, if New York City explodes with violence like Los Angeles did?

Four officers viciously beat Rodney King during his arrest after a high speed pursuit. The beating was caught on camera and later shown on televisions across the country. When all four officers were acquitted, the city cried out for justice -- through riots.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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1977. Geraldo Rivera's Good Night America program brings us a detailed look into the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. beginning with the speech he made a day before being killed. Sitting in with Geraldo is Dick Gregory, a close associate of Mr. King and Mark Lane, who co-authored the book 'Operation Zorro'.

Mark Lane interviewed James Earl Ray in 1977, and that interview is shown a few minutes into the segment. Later retired FBI agent Arthur Murtagh joins the conversation. He recounts 8 or 9 agents involved in the investigation, claiming one of them 'jumped for joy' on hearing of King's death.

The MLK family did not believe James Earl Ray was the killer, though he was convicted. In 1999 a jury concluded that various U.S. government agencies conspired to murder King and frame Ray for the assassination.

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