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Let me start of by saying that I'm a native New Yorker. Born and raised in Manhattan's lower east side. I have been to pretty much every neighborhood both good and bad within the 5 boroughs but last week for the first time while taking a detour due to heavy traffic I passed through what I was told at the time was Brownsville Brooklyn. I recall being at the intersection of Rockaway and Sutter and looking around while saying to myself...."where the hell am I?" It was as if every single person in the neighborhood was outside doing nothing but watching everyone who passed by. Every single store front had at least 6-7 guys just standing in front. While driving down Sutter I come to a stop at a red light and see some guy being carried out on a stretcher from a chicken place on the corner with blood running down his face as if he was cut or stabbed. Continued down Sutter and saw more of the same block after block. It was as if everyone was up to no good! Sorry if I offend anyone who's from there but this neighborhood was pretty horrific looking! Even the cops looked scared while patrolling on foot 5 deep all walking very close together. It was as if the people (mainly black males) were like wolves just waiting around to attack thier prey! Now I've been to some rough looking neighborhoods but this one definitely takes the cake! Sad part is, there's people from there that are actually proud of having that title!
Dude, you were and are letting your imagination get the better of you and falling into prejudicial stereotyping.
It is a tough area? Yes, it is, but "black...standing around like wolves" is simply a stereotyped prejudiced mind running amuck!
You were in strange unfamilar suurroundings. What might occur was unknown and of course you were and are imagining the worst.
NOTHING happened to YOU!
YOU were not threatened nor faced any actual danger.
Yet, your mind starts bugging out with imaginings.
You see some cops and immediiatel begin interpreting their behavior (what experience you have at this one can only wonder) and imposing your prejudicial fear upon them and their behavior. No corroboration whatsoever, except your imaginings.
If "wolves" were about, then why didn't they attack YOU!
Apparently, YOU were the most vulnerable prey about; or, were you riding in a tank??!!
So, obviuously, your imagings were unfounded and an over reaction!
****
You say you're from the lower east side, correct? What is that the land of luxiry and safety??? Nop!
It is Loisada! Land of housing projects, tenaments, drugs and New Yoricans, and working class old jews in old Union sponsored coops. Drugs, crime, and shootings! Wholly unattractive, parts of which have and is going thru gentrification. Gentrification is attracted by low rents. The LES had/has low rents because it is unattractive!! There is crime and drugs. It was once a drug heaven.
So, please, you grew up in a version of hell! A ghetto. The older you are the worse it was. Drugs, abandoned buildings and all. The only difference for you Mr. Grew Up on the LES is that Brownsville is dominated by blacks.
The first Heroin needle I ever saw, LES. The first drug line, hal way done the block, I ever saw, the LES. The first abandoned buildings in Manhattan I ever saw, the LES. Anyone who grew up there would know this history.
Unless you locked up in one of the Jewish Union coops, and your parents never let you out, otherwise you grew up in the midst of all that! Even if you happen to be the prodigy of urban pioneers.
So, please stop with the over exageration.
Btw, you should take a ride over to New Jersey, East Orange, and report back, if you get back!
Oh, and if you think Far Rock to be tough, from an outsiders point of view, you need to get around more!
Dude, you were and are letting your imagination get the better of you and falling into prejudicial stereotyping.
It is a tough area? Yes, it is, but "black...standing around like wolves" is simply a stereotyped prejudiced mind running amuck!
You were in strange unfamilar suurroundings. What might occur was unknown and of course you were and are imagining the worst.
NOTHING happened to YOU!
YOU were not threatened nor faced any actual danger.
Yet, your mind starts bugging out with imaginings.
You see some cops and immediiatel begin interpreting their behavior (what experience you have at this one can only wonder) and imposing your prejudicial fear upon them and their behavior. No corroboration whatsoever, except your imaginings.
If "wolves" were about, then why didn't they attack YOU!
Apparently, YOU were the most vulnerable prey about; or, were you riding in a tank??!!
So, obviuously, your imagings were unfounded and an over reaction!
****
You say you're from the lower east side, correct? What is that the land of luxiry and safety??? Nop!
It is Loisada! Land of housing projects, tenaments, drugs and New Yoricans, and working class old jews in old Union sponsored coops. Drugs, crime, and shootings! Wholly unattractive, parts of which have and is going thru gentrification. Gentrification is attracted by low rents. The LES had/has low rents because it is unattractive!! There is crime and drugs. It was once a drug heaven.
So, please, you grew up in a version of hell! A ghetto. The older you are the worse it was. Drugs, abandoned buildings and all. The only difference for you Mr. Grew Up on the LES is that Brownsville is dominated by blacks.
The first Heroin needle I ever saw, LES. The first drug line, hal way done the block, I ever saw, the LES. The first abandoned buildings in Manhattan I ever saw, the LES. Anyone who grew up there would know this history.
Unless you locked up in one of the Jewish Union coops, and your parents never let you out, otherwise you grew up in the midst of all that! Even if you happen to be the prodigy of urban pioneers.
So, please stop with the over exageration.
Btw, you should take a ride over to New Jersey, East Orange, and report back, if you get back!
Oh, and if you think Far Rock to be tough, from an outsiders point of view, you need to get around more!
I never said the L.E.S was a great place back then. It was a heroin flea market back in the 70's - early 90's. I remember it all. I lived there during the height of the heroin epidemic. Difference between Brownsville and what the L.E.S once was is that crime in the L.E.S back then all surrounded money from drugs and and even then it was somewhat organized with each crew respecting another crew's block. The shootings and killings were because of the stick up kids and people who ran off with work and/or owed money. In places like Brownsville, all you hear about is senseless shootings and innocent bystanders getting hit over beef that is usually gang related or that started over a dice game or some other pointless nonsense. Trust me. I've seen my fair shair of hoods from Philly, to D.C to the BX to the hoods in MIA and so on. I've never had any reason to pass thru Brownsville up until a few weeks ago and from what I saw, the other hoods in NYC have progressed somewhat while Brownsville looks to have stayed stuck. Even Bed Stuy and Crown Heights has drastically improved from what it once was 5-10yrs ago. Look at the L.E.S now. As F'd up as it once was, its like night and day compared to what Brownsville is now.
Last edited by louie0406; 08-06-2012 at 01:06 PM..
I went by the same intersection you did except down Rockaway Ave. You are certainly right about the sheer number of people just sitting outside stores almost aimlessly.
I went by the same intersection you did except down Rockaway Ave. You are certainly right about the sheer number of people just sitting outside stores almost aimlessly.
Pretty much every area that is in red on the safety maps feature this characteristic.
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