New novel shows destruction of Rondo neighborhood through the eyes of a young girl

NINA MOINI: It's been more than 60 years since the construction of Interstate 94 destroyed much of the historically Black St. Paul neighborhood, Rondo. Minneapolis Writer, Debra J. Stone remembers visiting her grandparents in Rondo every single Sunday without fail. She even remembers playing in an enormous dirt pit from I-94 construction growing near their house.

It was only when her grandparents' house was demolished she realized the effect the Interstate would have. Debra wrote a novel about a little girl, not unlike herself at the time, grappling with the destruction of the Rondo neighborhood in 1963. The book is called The House on Rondo, and it's out today. Deborah, thanks so much for joining us to talk about your work.

DEBRA J. STONE: Thank you, I appreciate it.

NINA MOINI: I'd love to know what you were thinking when you decided the plot of this novel. It's not like you put your own name on it, but you are connected to this little girl. Can you talk about that?

DEBRA J. STONE: Well, I felt it was important for young people to understand the history of Minneapolis and St. Paul. And so I thought it would be a much more accessible story to tell from the perspective of a 13-year-old.

There's many stories about Rondo from the adult perspective, but I wanted to emphasize that this is a book for everyone because not everyone knows about what happened to the Rondo neighborhood. But I especially wanted it to be in the voice of a 13-year-old.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, because so many people can relate to that, even adults, that feeling of being around that age. Tell us a little bit more about the plot and how it mirrors what you experienced around that age.

DEBRA J. STONE: Well, IT mirrors some parts of my life. Like you said, my grandparents lived in the Rondo neighborhood, my mother grew up IN the Rondo neighborhood, and we had friends, I had friends in St. Paul as well as in Minneapolis. And she's just as vibrant as I was.

I wanted to have a young girl who was very adventurous and liked to do different things and to make friends. And also was very protective of her friends. That's how I feel this book, this novel narrative voice mirrors my own. And also the fact that not only people, but the house itself is a voice in the novel.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, and so many homes destroyed during that time. Businesses lost, families displaced, some relocating in the area, some forced to go elsewhere. What were you thinking about when you thought about the present day Rondo versus Rondo you remembered and that evolution over time? What sticks out to you?

DEBRA J. STONE: Well, I think the Rondo presently, of course, we have I-94 going through it. But the memory of Rondo is still alive through celebrations like the Selby Jazz Festival. That very much reflects the heartbeat of what Rondo neighborhood is about, as well as the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, where there are bricks laid of where former residents of Rondo Avenue used to live.

And I think that's an important piece of history to remember through celebration. There's also Rondo Days. So the spirit of Rondo is still very much alive.

NINA MOINI: Absolutely, and a lot more I think of the state and officials recognizing that impact in recent years and in wanting to move forward in a different way to try to include people who are a part of Rondo and what the future of Rondo will be. What do you think about just how to pour into this area today? Because you a lot about this area and you had written about it before, what do you hope for?

DEBRA J. STONE: Well, I hope that the Rondo, different organizations and agencies and nonprofits, will be able to structure some economic development in the neighborhood as well as housing and think of ways in which we can be more proactive about climate change in that neighborhood. There's a lot of pollution.

Children are suffering from asthma as well as adults because the air is polluted with a lot of heavy traffic. And maybe looking at ways that we can redesign Interstate highways.

NINA MOINI: I know the book is out today. Congratulations, again. Have you shared this book with people who are from Rondo or their parents or their grandparents live there? What has been the reaction?

DEBRA J. STONE: It's been lovely. It's been really positive. I couldn't hope for anything better.

NINA MOINI: Do you think that, that in part is because of this younger character perspective?

DEBRA J. STONE: It could be, it's hard to say. I really don't know. I just think the story resonates with so many people. As if someone told me while I was at a reading they said, this is such a human story. So it affects people in so many different ways.

NINA MOINI: Was there anybody in your family that you shared this with that maybe remembers that time and what was their reactions?

DEBRA J. STONE: My father is 96 years old and he is from the North side, and he married my mother, who was from Rondo. So he very much remembers the kinds of activities that North and Rondo experience. Hallie Q. Brown and Phyllis Wheatley had basketball games. And so the river, really the Mississippi River was not a barrier for the Black communities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was rivalry.

NINA MOINI: Always. So dad is from North Minneapolis, mom was over in St. Paul. You live in Northeast Minneapolis these days, I understand. But I am curious to know, to your point, I did a story a few years ago just about the history of Rondo, and I couldn't believe how many people who live in this area really did not know about the construction of Interstate 94 and what that meant for Rondo.

There's a lot more education that could be done. What do you think about when you drive along I-94?

DEBRA J. STONE: I try not to, such a mess. [LAUGHTER] I like to take the rail system or drive-through West River Road and East River Road anyway to avoid 94. I think it's a horrible way to cross the city. I don't know, it's just not a thing I find to be really pleasant unless I really have to.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, sure. I understand that for sure. You said that you didn't really think of yourself as a writer until much later in your life, and this is your first book. And understanding all of the history and all of the feelings and the hopes for the future, what are you hoping that people take away from this book?

DEBRA J. STONE: I hope that people take away that if you have a desire to write a book, no matter what age you are, you should write it. Tell the story that you want to read. That's a paraphrase of the quote from Toni Morrison.

It's difficult to decide when you want to be a writer, and when do you want to call yourself a writer. And I was privileged enough to receive some very interesting writing residencies, and I was around a lot of people who are well-known writers. And it was at that moment that I thought, wow, somebody thinks I've got some talent, and that's why I'm here. So I'm a writer.

NINA MOINI: You sure are. And sometimes it does take somebody else seeing that in you. But we have a copy of the book and you are an author and a writer. Debra, thank you so very much for sharing your time with us today. Congratulations.

DEBRA J. STONE: Thank you so much.

NINA MOINI: That was Debra J. Stone, the author of the novel out today, called The House on Rondo. Debra will be at a launch event for the book at Black Garnet Books in St. Paul this Saturday at 1:00. You can learn more on our website, nprnews.org.