Video: A Taste of Bed Stuy
For those of you who haven’t gotten a chance to get to know Bed Stuy, check out this video that celebrates the nabe’s close-knit sense of community and architectural history and examines some of the issues surrounding the recent gentrification in the neighborhood. Our favorite part? A look inside the Akwaaba Inn on MacDonough Street….
For those of you who haven’t gotten a chance to get to know Bed Stuy, check out this video that celebrates the nabe’s close-knit sense of community and architectural history and examines some of the issues surrounding the recent gentrification in the neighborhood. Our favorite part? A look inside the Akwaaba Inn on MacDonough Street. Brownstone-y goodness.
A Taste of Bed Stuy [YouTube]
Um, Ballin’, what bias are you talking about? I certainly didn’t see any feminist bias in Monique Greenwood’s comments, and the fact that she is a very successful entrepeneur should not be discounted because she edited Black female oriented magazine. She and her family almost single handedly revitalized Stuy Heights’ commercial district on Lewis Ave, and opened a beautiful bed and breakfast in a area that no one ever thought would succeed. Not only did it succeed, they went on to open successful B&B’s in Cape May and in Washington DC. Most of it while being the editor of Essence, and raising her kids with her husband. I’ve met her on several occasions at Akwaaba, and she is a wonderful person, and one of my role models as a successful Black businesswoman here in Brooklyn. She has worked hard to bring outside admiration, as well as self pride to Bed Stuy, and as such, is well entitled to her opinions that BS is worthy.
I think it’s actually 50%. Also 50% high school drop-out rate. Sad facts…
“it is a sad fact that the majority of black men in NYC, and Bed Stuy are not employed ”
Evidence, please. 51% of black men in NY are not employed????
I also like the Akwaaba Inn owner’s question regarding why are brownstones two subway stops away worth twice as much (I assume she means Clinton Hill/Fort Greene/Brooklyn Heights). Answer: More amenities and lower crime, closer proximity to Manhattan and park land (promenade and Ft. Greene Park). Wealthy people are going to by in the better location first. Manhattan is the base for most jobs of those who buy. The further you move out from there, the more it will cost. Bed Stuy is huge and diverse, and not all of it is close to the A/C.
Also, the keeping it black comment is understandable, but I don’t commend it. Fort Greene/Clinton Hill is a much better example of what neighborhood’s should aspire to be – diverse. By the mentality of the Akwaaba owner, the whites who left in the 1940s and 1950s during white flight would be justified in saying that the area should remain the white enclave it was built to be in the 19th century. Come on. When are we going to focus on being inclusive and be confident enough in ourselves that not everyone has to be the same.
There’s nothing souring African American heritage in Bed Stuy – you’re just hearing reactionary ignorant comments from some people. Neighborhood’s change. That’s the way it’s always been in NYC. Nice thing now is that there is discussion and integration (or the potential for it in any event). Things break down at the class level moreso than the race level in NYC nowadays when discussing neighorhood racial profiles.
As far as the depiction of men in the video, it is a sad fact that the majority of black men in NYC, and Bed Stuy are not employed so you do see a lot of them “hanging out”. Sad but true. It also depends on the time of day of the video. Middle of the day you’re not going to see all the hardworking men who are off at the office, the store etc.
Monique Greenwood was editor at Essence Magazine; a strongly feminist publication. It no wonder her bias’ show through in this piece. …
Monique Greenwood bought a B and B in Cape May NJ. Shit..then I can buy in her neighborhood, GET REAL
You dig?
lamest. comments. ever.
Larry, if you listen to what Monique Greenwood says, she said that the community should remain primarily black, but ANYONE who wanted to make a positive contribution was welcome. There are lots of non-black people moving into Bed Stuy. There is certainly room for anyone who wants to join the community, no matter what their race, but Bed Stuy should retain its historically black identity. As do the Chinatowns, Little Italys, Little Odessas, etc, etc, retain their ethnic identities. People who move into those communities know that coming in, and welcome living with people who may not be like themselves in race or ethnicity, but fit themselves into the community. If you as a white man move into Bed Stuy, you have to accept that you will be a minority, and that may bother you, or it may not. You are also moving into a neighborhood that still has many problems and still is well behind the city average in terms of income and there are still pockets of massive and pervasive poverty, joblessness and yes, crime here. There is also vast beauty, wonderful people and an enduring strength. I suggest you come to the House Tour tomorrow, and see for yourself.