Quote of the Day
Everyone I know, who has either held on during the bad old days, and is still hanging on, or chose to come back or join our communities since then, is very, very committed to not only keeping what we have now, but improving it. For ourselves and families, not to make it attractive and desireable…
Everyone I know, who has either held on during the bad old days, and is still hanging on, or chose to come back or join our communities since then, is very, very committed to not only keeping what we have now, but improving it. For ourselves and families, not to make it attractive and desireable to others. Because we, as a black community, are certainly not all poor, not criminal, not all unemployed, and not all concerned with impressing other people. We in Crown Heights North, did not work like dogs to get our neighborhood landmarked to impress white people, or make it “good enough” for them to want to move here. We, and by which I mean an organization that was about 95% black at the time, did it for US, because we are proud of our neighborhood, and wanted it protected, for now, and for our future generations, no matter who happens to live there.
— by Montrose Morris in What the Census Says About Us
I can’t believe anyone who had read anything MM has written would doubt how passionate and honest she is. MM obviously has lived through some of the bad old days, and persevered. She is investd in her neighborhood and works to help make it better, instead of sitting around doing nothing but complain.
I think the What and MM share a real love of their neighborhood. They are both certainly proud of who they are and where they come from. They both “get it” so I don’t understand the enmity on his side.
I love Crown Heights and as a newcomer, relatively, I certainly take no credit helping to make it the wonderful community it is. It was people like those who founded CHNA who should. Gentrification is a 2-edged sword, no doubt. Hopefully we’ll figure out how make it a fairer process. somehow social responsibility and simple compassion ought to be part of the free market system. I’m probably opening myself up to a whole lot of ridicule with that one 🙂
The What, MM, Dave, Rob, BRG, Cobblehiller, everyone, I love you all.
Bravo Montrosse. Of course we all work to make our communities better for ourselves but many others benefit as well.
Bravo Montrosse. Of course we all work to make our communities better for ourselves but many others benefit as well.
MM, my friend, as usual — you rock! Thanks so much for your contributions to this forum. They are always welcome.
And some people who’ve lived in a neighborhood for a long time aren’t very welcoming to new people. You should welcome new people into a community, because embracing the new and different can enhance positive progress, can breathe vitality into the stale and stalled out and can help lead to new and interesting solutions to old, pernicious problems.
I’m going to bring this around and speak about the quote because it’s an important one.
It speaks volumes about community. Some people move into a neighborhood, for whatever reason, and then shut themselves in, and let the neighborhood happen around them. Whatever area you live in, you should live in the community. Be active, everything happening in the area affects you! Active people in a community is what makes change.
“Wasder my statement does not mean we are friends, it just means I understand…”
Haha! Just saw this coda. Don’t worry What, I am not looking to sing kumbaya with you, you are safe.
A great thread obliterated by the ‘What’
Where’s 11217 to call this on out?