Jimmie Lee Robinson and Sterling Plumpp on Maxwell street

Sterling Plumpp recites a powerful poem on Maxwell street excavation site, stops to talk with Jimmie Lee Robinson about the old days and the future..

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blues
• Jimmie
• Lee
• Robinson
• Sterling
• Plumpp
• Maxwell
• street

[JSLLH]

jimmie lee told me a lot of stories about how maxwell street used to be . he spent a lot of time fighting for it . he used to fast for days and sometimes weeks in an effort to save maxwell street from being demolished . i never knew the other man , but i can tell you folks that jimmie lee was a beautiful man and musician with a heart of gold . i miss jimmie lee robinson and so do many others . all the best , les copeland

[beepeelow]

My Grand-Dad was a foot cop on Maxwell Street. It was often called Jew Town, but that did not seem as offensive at the time. Maxwell was similar to the lower east side of New York with pedlers and pushcarts.

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

I have heard Maxwell Street was the first version of the garage sale! I ugess, since items were used and new, and almost anything could be found there! But again, there is almost always.. sensitivity to ethnicity. Many people dont want this word ("J") used to infer a TYPE of personality within people. Can anyone else see the offensive inference, being used- here? ("J" THEM down?") I miss Maxwell.. its all icky new storefronts.. looks like a ghostown. I hope the investors went broke!

[gnerd]

I have always known it as jewtown. Maxwell street market was started at the turn of the century by jews, and it was a produce market. It eventually transformed into the market you knew and loved. I was born kinda late to experience it. However, these videos are the only link I have to the great market, my dad so often describes as the greatest place on earth.

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

We never called it Jewtown. I was stunned hearing that word as an adult. It simply was MAXWELL Street, a place to hear blues and have a big Sunday outing, and just maybe, buy something. After the alley strolls comin home from church. Love Seein JLR and Sterling Plumpp.. THANKS.. Too bad the money always kills real people's culture.

[barrelhousebonni]

What a combination of two profound poets--Sterling Plumpp and Jimmie Lee Robinson! I helped fight against the demolition of Maxwell Street. The city does not understand what a cultural landmark they had there.

[eagelgregory]

It was called jewtown because the neighborhood used to be a jewish ghetto during the turn of the century. The open air market started out predominatly jewish, and the stores remained jewish owned up somewhere until the time of WWII... but I know what you mean. I miss the smell of old Jims. The whole hood smelled like polish. The grills at new Jims are too clean. At least little sonny is still around.

[soln4suhreborn]

i miss the old maxwell street market a/k/a/ JEWTOWN! (they called it jewtown because you could often negotiate or "jew" down the prices!) good polish sausages and french fries. blues singers jammin' out in the street. the tamale man sellin' hot tamales. you could get ANYTHING for the cheap there,from new clothes and shoes,household supplies,tools,old and new tires,stereos,t.v.'s,cologne and perfume,car parts,cars(running and ready to go,for real!!) i used to cop all of my records from jewtown!