How One Community’s Miracle Helped Push America Forward
— Congressman Jamie Raskin“This book tells the remarkable story in Joyce’s own words, a spellbinding tale of interracial solidarity, deep organizing, and the ceaseless struggle for justice and civil rights.”
During the so-called Urban Renewal of the tumultuous 1960s, thousands of historic Black communities were literally wiped off America’s map. The Noodge tells the remarkable story of how one such community managed to survive—thanks in large part to Joyce Bernhardt Siegel, an unlikely heroine who led a Civil Rights-era campaign that reached the highest levels of the federal government, including the President himself.
Learn more about the book
“In the turbulent 1960s, a group of caring, committed neighbors — African-American and white, Jewish and Christian, poor and well-off—bonded together to save an historic Black community from disappearing. Their remarkable story has valuable lessons for all of us today.”
“Authentic...caring...behaving in a conscionable manner… Apt descriptions of Mrs. Joyce Siegel. She refused to ‘sit on the sidelines’ and watch unsympathetic forces seek to displace or marginalize a low-income community of hard-working, aspiring citizens. Mrs. Siegel’s heart of love and determination resulted in success by making ‘Good Noise,’ by The Noodge herself.”
“Joyce Siegel is an incredible woman who formed partnerships with the residents of the Scotland community and other community leaders that changed American history. Her latest partnership with Paul Tukey has produced this page-turning book that documents her story and serves a model for future activists.”
The philosophy Joyce Bernhardt Siegel has carried throughout her life.
Read a Chapter
Joyce Bernhardt Siegel is an award-winning community leader and longtime advocate for fair housing, historic preservation, and social justice. Among her many honors are the Smith College Medal, the Neal Potter Lifetime Service Award, and the Roscoe C. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award.
Joyce’s story
This marks the fourth book for author and journalist Paul Tukey, who has won national and international honors for work in books, newspapers, magazines, and documentary films in the past five decades.
About Paul