Wrestling with Fort Greene's Transformation
In a first-person piece in The Times this weekend, artist Nelson George laments how Fort Greene has changed since he and his black artist contemporaries put down roots in the leafy brownstone neighborhood more than two decades ago. We’re interested to hear how the essay struck readers. What we thought was missing from the article…
In a first-person piece in The Times this weekend, artist Nelson George laments how Fort Greene has changed since he and his black artist contemporaries put down roots in the leafy brownstone neighborhood more than two decades ago. We’re interested to hear how the essay struck readers. What we thought was missing from the article was an acknowledgment of the current generation of black artists and intellectuals in the neighborhood and how they feel about the composition of the neighborhood. A mention of a place like Madiba where the diversity of the area is on full display, for example, would have added some valuable context for his discussions of the clientele at the Brooklyn Moon. Then again, this wasn’t meant to have been anything more than one man’s coming to terms with the changes around him. Thoughts?
Fort Greene: Strangers on His Street [NY Times]
Photo by niznoz
I’m very torn. I thought the article was a wonderful piece and Mr. george George White people in older neighborhoods felt as they changed also. He truly sees it is a universal phenomenon and thought he is regretful about it, he isn’t angry. I loved his description of Fort Greene and I enjoyed the article with more than a twinge that as a White person who moved to Crown Heights, I played my own role is the changing of the neighborhood. But I also believe in becoming part of the neighborhood,and community- not changing it- it’s an amazing process, and a wonderful feeling to be made welcome into your neighbor’s house.
One of the things I’ve always loved about NY’s many neighborhoods and districts was that they were so different and diverse. Going from one neighborhood to another to another was like walking the world. Sadly most people didn’t revel in our differences, they made them into weapons of fear and distrust.
Maybe the greater lesson is that there is no way to stop change, and maybe we shouldn’t want to. But still, Fort Greene must have been some place and I, for one, find the blanding of NYC very sad. Maybe the lady who gave him the “scary tall Black man” look will read his article and understand, it works both ways.
It’s interesting that the Times also ran a piece in the Arts section about LJ Davis who wrote a couple of books about the experience of outsiders moving into this neghborhood in the ’70s. One of the books was just reissued with a forward from Jontahan Lethem.
No problem. Success in life is determined in large part on how one deals with change, I tend to believe. Fort Greene has changed, and while I’ll never forget the past, time marches on and I’m ready for whatever the future may bring.
I’m a white guy who grew up in downtown brooklyn, always had a friend or two in ftgreene, and live there today. I may not have ever been a part of black culture in ftgreene :), but I certainly appreciated it and do feel like ftgreene has lost much of its spirit.
The author wonders himself whether old Italian guys in SoBro would feel the same way…and yea I bet they do.
Part of it is a race thing, yes it’s comforting to see people who look like you. I think the biggest factor is the cultural difference…and yes some of the old culture is gone. There are countries where cultures evolve very slowly and in a more nuanced way. This is Brooklyn though and things can change very quick.
Nice article 🙂
As one of the white newcomers to the area (3 years ago), I had the same reaction, where I felt that he intentionally failed to mention areas of the neighborhood where good creative enrgy and diversity are on full display – such as Madiba, all of the events at BAM, and Habana Outpost in the summer to name a few. Also, he bemoans the loss of an Ethiopian restaurant which he never visited, but fails to mention that a brand new Ethiopian restaurant just opened within spitting distance of the old one.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, East New York. This could be a very interesting thread if everyone can do a similar job of keeping their cool while being honest but respectful.
I’m usually pretty tired of the “the times-they-are-a-changin” pieces that the NY Times loves to run, but this one was interesting in that it at least gave mention to the previous generation that experienced their own sort of change.
Change happens, especially in cities…but from some of the Times’ previous articles you’d assume that change is some sort of scary newcomer.
As someone who was on the scene, I think Nelson George’s piece did an excellent job of describing the perspective of the black media, music and arts professionals who emerged in that period, in Fort Greene, which as he says was a center for creative young black people. I remember the incredible talents, the parties, the beautiful women and cool brothers, the great art and also our great hunger to succeed. Mr. George correctly noted that many have moved on to other places, but also many remain. But there’s no doubt the area has changed, and it’s strange and annoying to sometimes get “Oh oh, tall black man” looks from white people on the same streets where we once happily reigned. I would never have imagined it back then.
Why did you put this piece on?? Because you saw the traction on the other thread! I wonder how long before it gets nasty in here? Brownstoner= Head Chief of Covert Race/Class Warfare!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…