Ep 2. Decade of Fire

Decade of Fire, the second episode of Independent Lens’ twenty-first season, is a compelling documentary that takes viewers through the turbulent history of the Bronx in the 1970s. The decade of the 1970s was an important era in the history of America, as it marked a period of social movements, political upheaval, and economic changes. But for the residents of the South Bronx, the 1970s were something entirely different - a period marked by abandonment, arson, poverty, and systemic neglect.

Decade of Fire, directed and produced by filmmaker Vivian Vázquez Irizarry and journalist Gretchen Hildebran, opens with arresting images of the Bronx circa 1970, a place that is barely recognizable from the bustling, thriving borough we know today. Using archival footage, photos, and interviews with eyewitnesses, former residents, and community leaders, the documentary unveils the root causes of the devastation that befell the South Bronx and the resilient civic initiatives that emerged in response.

The film’s main protagonist is Vivian Vázquez Irizarry, who grew up in the South Bronx and witnessed firsthand the rapid decline of the community, as well as the grassroots efforts that gradually transformed it. As a child of Puerto Rican immigrants who came to New York in the 1950s, Vivian recalls a childhood where fire was a constant threat - a menace as ubiquitous as rats, poverty, and gangs. “We had a language for fire,” says Vivian, “it was ‘who got burned out last night?’”

But Vivian’s narrative is not just one of despair and misery. Decade of Fire highlights how the residents of the South Bronx formed grassroots organizations, such as the Young Lords, the Black Panthers, and the United Bronx Parents, to fight for better housing, better schools, and safer streets. At the same time, Vivian discovers the unacknowledged role that these organizations and the community played in preventing the demolition of the Bronx and instigating a new era of affordable housing, community development, and cultural revitalization.

The documentary features interviews with a range of experts and community activists, including Bronx historian Clayton Powell, social justice activist Majora Carter, and cultural organizer and hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. Moreover, Decade of Fire integrates the voices of South Bronx residents, many of them elderly and vulnerable, who share their own memories and stories about how they survived and thrived during the 1970s. Their testimonies offer a testament of human courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

One of the key themes that the documentary explores is the rampant myth of “Bronx is Burning,” a phrase that became a shorthand for the notion that the South Bronx was destroyed almost overnight by random acts of arson committed by its residents. Decade of Fire unveils how this narrative not only missed the underlying social and economic factors that led to the crisis but also perpetuated racist and classist stereotypes that portrayed the South Bronx as a “hellhole” beyond redemption. The documentary debunks this myth by revealing the institutional racism, redlining, and malign neglect that shaped the South Bronx and made it vulnerable to decay.

Decade of Fire also grapples with the legacy of the crisis and its uneven aftermath. While the South Bronx has seen some remarkable revitalization efforts, such as the creation of the Bronx Documentary Center, the Bronx Music Heritage Center, or the South Bronx Greenway, the documentary acknowledges that the gains of these initiatives have been unevenly distributed across race and class lines. Gentrification, for instance, is now displacing many long-term residents and altering the social fabric of the community in unpredictable ways. Decade of Fire invites viewers to reflect on the ongoing challenges that face urban communities and the urgent need to address issues of disinvestment, racial injustice, and environmental degradation.

Overall, Decade of Fire is a gripping and informative documentary that tells a powerful story of urban crisis and resilience. It blends historical research, personal narratives, and political analysis to provide a multi-dimensional portrait of the South Bronx and its communities. The documentary not only sheds light on an overlooked chapter in American history but also offers a hopeful vision of how collaboration, education, and advocacy can empower residents and rebuild neighborhoods. Decade of Fire encourages viewers to remember the past, appreciate the present, and envision a more just and inclusive future for urban America.