Impact Detroit Magazine Impact Detroit Magazine 2013 | Page 48

“A Paper Route”

By Anita T. Gibbs from Detroit, Michigan

There used to be a time when
newspaper delivery was the
norm. In the wee hours of each
morning, a perfectly pre-folded
paper would miraculously show
up on porches.
A delivery person who got up
early every morning before
school would also come around
to collect for that service weekly.
Sometimes there were tips.
This was an early right of
passage for most boys in urban
areas, not to mention additional
i n c o m e f o r t h e f a m i l y.
Occasionally, girls would even
get in on the fun and
were usually the younger sisters
who initially helped and later
acquired the route when the boy
could no longer complete the
task for one reason or another.
Many parents would drive along
behind the boy on foot or in most
cases, his bike for the ride back
home or for safety purposes.
This was a lesson in
entrepreneurship, as well as
responsibility. If the newspaper
was late (or even if stolen),
customers would use it as an
excuse to avoid or decrease their
payment.

from the route (plus tips) to
purchase incidentals for a
teenage lifestyle, so the terms
‘every day’ and ‘on time’ were
essential to running a ‘business.’

‘You’d better hurry up,” he
reminded Vance. Many people
have asked about this bike, but I
told them that the paper boy
wants it and they stop looking at
Of course, the newspapers came it.”
from somewhere.
The
Newspaper company would “You must have the whole
allow the newspapers to either be neighborhood for a route boy!
picked up at the Print shop, or Because when I tell them about it
they would deliver them to the and say your name, they will
carriers each night after printing automatically look at something
to ensure the timely delivery else.”
I may stop telling
standards set forth by the people… he grumbled.
company.
A young man named Vance was a
diligent and responsible
newspaper carrier who made it
his business to go to bed early to
enable him to get up and ride his
bike to make his newspaper
deliveries before school. The
only time his father would follow
him in the car was when the
weather was inclement, and a
bike was not the best option for
the delivery trip.

“I will get it soon Sir, you’ll see.
Vance said.
My mom keeps
borrowing money from me so it
has been hard to save it all”., but
I’ll be ready for it in another
week or so, you watch!”
Two days later, a riot ensued and
the Paper shop burned to the
ground. There was nothing left
but ashes. Andre went there and
sat in the rubble and held back
his tears. A reporter had been on
the block interviewing other
business owners about their
losses and happened upon the
young man.

Vance saved and saved having
his eye on a bike that he wanted
to purchase at a bike shop
nearby. The shop owner would
remind him that people came in
everyday and peered at the new “Hello young man is everything
The boys were usually dependent green ten-speed that he had his okay?” the reporter asked Vance.
on the income that they earned heart set on.