It was the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s in Burlington, NJ—a unique time and place. And these were the people we knew growing up. They were Giants and remain so in our esteem for them, the lessons they taught and sacrifices they made. They were Black folks from the South. Working men who freely gave the sweat of their brows to support their families. Dads on “Father Knows Best” and “Leave It to Beaver” went to work carrying briefcases. Our dads carried lunch buckets. They returned home tired, clothes stained with dirt and sweat. Though flawed and imperfect, they were men women and children could count on. Women devoted themselves primarily to family and home. Some worked at the Toy Factory and the Burlington Coat Factory (before it became a national chain). Others cleaned the homes of Miss Ann and Mr. Charley. Their love for family and children nurtured and protected us all. We were a village before anyone knew a village made a difference. We were poor, but didn’t know it; surrounded by love and protection, but unaware. The reminisces in this book are of the Giants who raised us—the role models, teachers and enforcers of the culture we were born into. They molded us into the men and women we are today through their sheer determination that we would grow up to be good, God-fearing people. We are the product of the role models they were, the love they freely gave, and the ever-present threat of a good “whipping” if we didn’t do the right thing. We now know we were precious in the sight of them all.