Rosenberg Fund for Children

I went to visit my mom. April 6 – April 11. We went to a lot of doctor’s appointments. That was hard. But we had a lot of time to chat. She was happy I visited. We didn’t try to take any walks – not this visit – not unless you count long corridors. But when I left Saturday April 11, I didn’t head home. I went to Northampton.

I have on my shelf a signed copy of An Execution in the Family. Robert Meeropol wrote it. And signed it. I think my mother got it at an event in Easthampton years ago. Bobby’s parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were executed, killed, murdered, by the United States government when Bobby was a little boy. Julius had passed on unconsequential “secrets” – and Ethel had done nothing at all – and the prosecutors knew that. But the book is not about Bobby’s parents –

it’s really about Bobby, about growing up the son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. About being hounded. About being adopted by the Meeropols. Abel Meeropol, by the way, was a teacher at DeWitt Clinton HS. Taught James Baldwin. A member of the NY Teachers Union, not the UFT. And Abel was a poet. Wrote “Bitter Fruit” – an anti-lynching poem. Name changed by the time Billie Holiday made it famous as “Strange Fruit.”

In any case, the story is about Bobby and his older brother Michael growing up. And then it follows Bobby as a student activist. And then a lawyer. And then

the founder of the Rosenberg Fund for Children (RFC). The RFC supports the children of targeted activists. It pays for classes, for summer camp, for therapy, for enrichment. Because when your parents are fighting the good fight, it means something is wrong with your society, which can stress a kid. And when your parents are targeted, that’s certain to stress you as a kid. And forget about you as a the kid of targeted parents being targeted yourself.

So my mom was drawn to the story, and the cause. Thus the book. And fast forward a few years, and I saw the Strange Fruit story, and decided to donate to something (immediately after the murder of George Floyd), and chose the Rosenberg Fund for Children, partly because of the Meeropol/teacher thing, and partly because I knew my mom would like it.

And then I read the book. The signed copy my mom must have made a donation to get. And the story was compelling. I started donating every year. I guess to please my mom? But I think because it is a compelling cause. I hate when children are victims. And this year was the RFC’s 35th Anniversary, and there was some sort of public event April 11, in Northampton, and Angela Davis was speaking. What the hell – I donated extra and got a ticket and entrance to the reception.

And so I left my mom April 11, but told her where I was going. It made her happy. I’m pretty sure she forgot soon after. But I drove to Northhampton, and listened to poetry and songs and talks… Angela Davis was sick and couldn’t make it. Bobby Meeropol wasn’t scheduled to speak, but did. He told the story of founding the RFC. Which I knew, mostly, because I’d read the book. Jenn Meeropol, his daughter and the RFC’s today director spoke. And a recipient. And it was warm and meaningful,

and I was happy to be there. And I imagined how my mom would have reacted to the poet, if she were better. (Probably would have rolled her eyes at the idea of poetry, but then enjoyed his words and his style). She would have participated better than me in the singalong. Not sure if she would have been bothered sitting in a church. And my thoughts floated between the ceiling and the speakers and my mom and the stained glass. And then it ended. And people were milling and chatting with me – even though no one knew me. I felt welcomed, part of an extended family. And the feeling continued across the street at the reception.

Now I’ve told my mom a few times about me going. And each time she’s pleased, in part because she forgets. I’m not sure she even remembers my visit a week and change ago. I still imagine that I am involved to please her. And that’s what drew me. But it is more than that. These are good people. They are doing good work. To help children whose parents have been victimized due to political activism. Anti-war. Queer rights. Trans rights. Indigenous rights. To help kids. Summer Camp. Therapy. Special classes. Art classes. Music classes. Even clown classes. I can say I do it for my mom. But I do it for the kids. Because it is right. Please consider donating as well. They really are warm, caring, good folks.