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 think it’s important to be sensitive about racism (whether real or perceived); just as it’s important to be sensitive about women’s vulnerability as targets of sexual and physical attacks (whether real or perceived).
I’m glad that fort greene brings up these issues so intensely. It’s not comfortable. That’s what makes it NYC, not Main St USA. It’s a home to everyone, and that takes everyone’s extra effort.
Thanks to the boys out there who get what I’m saying and make those “coughing” noises to let me know they’re sneaking up on me. I’ve found myself making the same kind of effort for women who seemed to get nervous hearing my footsteps being them.
FYI crossing the street is useful because it puts cars between you, and just being in the middle of the street can help too (men have mentioned doing this in the bad old days in rough neighborhoods).
I always assumed on any NYC street you have to be aware of everyone and everything around you. I don’t assume anything about anyone- I’ve had the toughest Black teenager making me take a seat next to him so I wouldn’t be annoyed by the two white guys having an elbow fight on the train and the black guy outside the Foodtown who ran up to me and grabbed my purse yelling at me to put my money away. While he stuffed it back in my bag. The only thing I was, was embarrassed and grateful.
boofer- just because you aren’t that way, don’t think it doesn’t happen. It does and its a mistake to think racism isn’t real and out there. I’ve seen it, experienced it (interracial marriage) and so have many of my family and friends.
Troy that must have been really difficult and frustrating but thank goodness you managed to beat it. You are right smiling doesn’t help much but just wondering how did you overcome it during your teens? Sorry to digress but this is so relevant in our situation.
I can see how why its a sensitive topic but I’m a white guy and I’ve had women give me a nervous look or quicken their pace when I’m behind them on an empty street. We live in a city you don’t have to feel guilty for watching out for yourself. As men its something we have to deal with occasionally. I don’t take it personally.
Troy…interesting story now, maybe not so when you were young. Thanks for sharing it.
Colonel, now you’re just being an obnoxious provocateur. If you ever have a kid who happens to be a girl, or a niece, or any young female close to you, ask her what it’s like to walk down dark streets at night alone, when there is NO ONE AROUND, and see a guy approaching you. Educate yourself.
And don’t compare hooking up with rape. That’s way beyond obnoxious and provocative. Especially considering how recently we had a rape on St Felix.
I don’t treat men as a threat period. I don’t put myself in situations that make me feel threatened. ie walking down a street in the middle of the night alone. I will sometimes cross the street when I see a group of men..whether they be teenagers, construction workers, or “tall black” men becuase I don’t feel like having them all turn and stare at me and make comments like I’m a sports car instead of a person.
How do all these women who say they treat all men as equal threats walk down any Brooklyn sidewalk? Do you just keep zig-zagging every time you see a guy? After all that ducking and dodging, how do you finally hook with a guy?
of course as soon as i submitted my test comment, the original comment appears at 2:20 like it was there all along.
Mr. B is out to get me. (i’m kidding)