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
Since I hit puberty, i have noticed that women clutch their purses, cross the street, look uncomfortable when I pass. As a nerdy and shy teenager who was just becoming aware of what being a (mixed) minority meant, this was really tough on me. One occasion actually made me cry (when a woman did a 180 and ran back up the subway stairs as I approached. I was wearing a blazer and tie for god’s sake).
My father (who is white and never dealt with this) said “just smile”. Trust me, it does not work.
Anyway, I went through a long phase of being overly aware and obsessive about this phenomenon, even trying to ask a few ladies what was so scary about a kid in catholic school uniform. Also not a great idea.
Over the years I’ve gotten used to it, and don’t think about it too much anymorebut it still sucks. I’ve realized as a man who looks black, latino or even middle eastern (i guess depending on the observer’s likes/fears…) there’s some stuff you must deal with even if you don’t accept it.
I know I didn’t add much to the convo, but this discussion brought up a lot of old feelings for me
“I’m a 6 ft woman. I recently crossed the street because a young man (boy?) approx 5’5″ in height was approaching behind me, quickly. This was on the Upper East side, it was late, dark, there was no one around. He was a rich looking preppy with slim shoulders, probably weighed 20 pounds less than me. Maybe he thought he wasn’t a threat, and could approach me quickly without getting a jumpy response. He was shocked that I started to crossed the street, and gave me a quizzical look when I glared at him.”
See how this thread descended into crap! I love walking behind the retards! This is my neighborhood and I will not alter my behavior because someone feels “threaten”! If it bothers you so much maybe there is a neighborhood to your liking. This what the retards really think about Black people but afraid to tell someone in their face.
Now here is an example about Brownstoner’s Covert Race/Class crap!
House of the Day: 20 Clifton Place
…From what we hear, this is just a few doors down from a notoriously bad drug house on the block. That said, if it turns out that there are some architectural details inside that are still intact, this could be an interesting buy if the price comes down a bit.
This is in Black neighborhood in Bed Stuy right? and now look at this post!
Co-op of the Day: 205 Park Place
“The details—mantel, moldings, original floors—give this one-bedroom at 205 Park Place in Prospect Heights a nice vibe. The railroad layout is probably suboptimal for some, with the bathroom through the bedroom in the rear. We have no idea if they are the same size, but the last three apartments to sell in the building went for between $420,000 and $440,000, suggesting that the asking price of $435,000 for this one has some basis in history.”
Now if the house in Bed Stuy was in Prospect Heights…..
You see a clear example of the Race Baiting that goes one here….
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
I’ve come to think a lot of the interactions we perceive as racism, sexism, and homophobia are just people reacting to “the Other.” I’ll never know what it’s like for a young woman to walk down the street on a hot day (ohhhh baby), just like I’ll always wonder how to befriend blacks in a loving way. I transferred some time ago: when I left some of the staff said, “Well, so-and-so can take over” – the only other white male on staff. As D.L Hughley said, “I’ll give you sickle cell and the big dick myth in exchange for being rich and boring.”
Well, I am a cat person 🙂
“and I’m gonna cross the street with total disregard for your feelings, because my safety is at stake.”
True IZ, anyone can have a gun anytime, and rape is committed by all ages and ethnicities. I don’t get the whole crossing the street thing, what does it accomplish besides showing fear?
But I agree w DIBS, as a man and a large one at that I try and be respectful when approaching women from behind especially at night by making noise and more especially by not passing close.
“Because there is nothing more embarrassing than a poodle sticking his nose under your dress.”
Bxgirl, are you discriminating against poodles?
He’s married 🙁 otherwise we would have engaged in a tug of war over him (he wears a borsalino!)
Doesn’t that beg the question about how our perceptions are created? Is that a fundamental flaw in our natures that we can’t understand that what we see may not agree with what the other person sees? Tomatoe, tomahtoe.
For me the heart of the essay was “I USED to look at the older white residents of ethnically changing Brooklyn enclaves like Canarsie and East Flatbush and wonder how they felt strolling through their neighborhood. Now I feel their sense of loss, their memories, their fear of the future.”
It’s that universal nervousness over change and everyone gets it. I think we tend to look more at our differences and not at our similarities. Maybe if we did, we could stop working against each other. Not be afraid of our differences.
SPRING FEVER HATH SPRUNG (even in the oddest places).
Benson, that is odd. I’ve never heard of that. I mean, you’re straight, for god’s sake! What more do these women want?