A bucolic wonderland, all-Caucasian, and with no housing projects whatsoever.
“After East Harlem,” he said, “this is the final frontier.”
Gaaaaaaah, can people not hear themselves? Does this man not realize he's supposed to complain about gentrification?
As for the slide show itself, I was under the impression that that it was no longer done to talk about land up till now inhabited only by non-whites as a recently-discovered "prairie," and to call the new white inhabitants "pioneers." Well, it shouldn't be acceptable (legal, but not acceptable), so now's as good a time as any to point out that political correctness can be a good thing.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Red Hook, Brooklyn:
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3 comments:
Red Hook has been victimized by an invasion by The Dorothies.
These are the newly minted white minority hailing from Midwestern and New England home towns. (It’s reflected in the out of state plates on their moms’ hand me down Volvos.)
A racial divide has long existed in Red Hook between the people of color in The Houses and the white landlords in The Back.
Racism and classism are rarely acknowledged verbally, in public, in Brooklyn. Dismissive language is generally reserved for private audiences. Dismissive looks and stares are for public consumption.
As a result of the underlying class/race issues native tri-staters have not flocked to Red Hook. Maybe The Dorothies perceive New York as a melting pot. In actuality they are a highly visible minority that is often viewed with animosity. Like drops of oil floating atop a large bowl of water.
Ignorant of their need to demonstrate a common plight with the majority of Red Hook’s residents they seem to only highlight the divide. They talk on their cell phones on the bus about their important jobs, their vacations and the last amazing art show that they saw. They exit their style conscious shops and eateries seemingly without a care in the world.
They are viewed as another example of whites taking whatever they want. They are severely scrutinized yet appear to be oblivious to this.
The divide of affluence in Red Hook continues to grow. Where will it lead?
Well, the obvious difference between Red Hook and the rest of Brooklyn is the lack of subway service. Isolating to those living in projects, not a problem for those who own cars, and unappealing to the bulk of New Yorkers in between.
As a resident of Philadelphia, I will never, ever, ever complain about gentrification.
Still and all, a recommendation.
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