- Albert and Kirsch owned most of housing in the inner city, and they were considered slum landlords.

They started to get things better when we came into view.

(contemplative music) My father's name was John "Jack" Johnson.

He was an ordained minister.

He came to Albany, New York in 1931.

He came from Shubuta, Mississippi, but he made up in his mind that he would not live down there because of the segregation and racism, and he brought people from Mississippi in cars, and he did that up until the '70's and the '80's.

It was very hard for African Americans to get a place to live.

The African American people couldn't get loans from the banks.

My father knew that anyone that he brought from Mississippi would have a hard time trying to get a place to stay.

(contemplative music) My father's relationship with Mr.

Irving Kirsch was very, very good Over 40 years of a harmonious relationship because they understood the struggle.

Mr.

Kirsch knew the Jewish struggle.

My dad knew the African-American struggle and the similarity between the two cultures.

You have to understand that the relationship between the Jewish culture and the African American culture understood what suffering was and is.