30 Years Later: Is Howard Beach, Queens still "racist"? (Ridge: crime, neighborhoods)

[bingo3000]

Thirty years ago, December 1986, a terrible tragedy occurred in the Italian-American enclave of Howard Beach, Queens between African Americans and Italian Americans. A predominately white enclave, where 23-year old Michael Griffith was killed after being chased by a white mob. Since then, people have looked at the neighborhood nationally with some suspicion. I don't usually use the word "racist" so much in discussions, but the incident was clearly racist.

Thirty years later, has the neighborhood changed? Yes, the neighborhood is still Italian-American, but has racial tensions been the same or has it increased? Is there still problems in Howard Beach?

Kin recalls Michael Griffith's 1986 racial death in Howard Beach - NY Daily News

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard...acial_incident

[Werdywerd]

Originally Posted by bingo3000

Since then, people have looked at the neighborhood nationally with some suspicion.

Yea, no.
I guarantee you no one is thinking about Howard Beach at all, especially not nationally.
Why drag up a 30 year old story all of a sudden?

Great another "racial based" thread. I'll get the popcorn

[bingo3000]

Originally Posted by Werdywerd

Yea, no.
I guarantee you no one is thinking about Howard Beach at all, especially not nationally.
Why drag up a 30 year old story all of a sudden?

Great another "racial based" thread. I'll get the popcorn

When people hear Howard Beach, they think about 1986. I'm sorry, the media has talked about it a lot, especially with race relations back in the news.

I just want to know about if the neighborhood has changed.

[Pruzhany]

Originally Posted by bingo3000

When people hear Howard Beach, .....

I think about Lenny's.

[ShirlMastic Beach]

Originally Posted by Pruzhany

I think about Lenny's.

They opened up a breakfast/brunch place right next door. Pretty good. Even saw black people there as patrons.

[citylove101]

I don't know Howard Beach at all, but I think the OP asked a reasonable and legitimate question: Neighborhoods and neighborhood reps do change over time, for better or for worse--or not at all. And anniversaries of headline-making important moments are a natural time to reflect on any change that's happened.

So does Howard Beach have the same vibe now? Anybody familiar with the neighborhood know?

[samyn on the green]

During catholic bridge & tunnel urban ethnics. Howard beach is the archetype area. There is no group hated by the ruling class more than these folks. Here is a hit and run incident from 30+ years ago and they still milk it for all its worth in their divide and conquer rhetoric.

[ShirlMastic Beach]

Originally Posted by citylove101

I don't know Howard Beach at all, but I think the OP asked a reasonable and legitimate question: Neighborhoods and neighborhood reps do change over time, for better or for worse--or not at all. And anniversaries of headline-making important moments are a natural time to reflect on any change that's happened.

So does Howard Beach have the same vibe now? Anybody familiar with the neighborhood know?

Howard Beach is much less racist than the neighboring black and brown neighborhoods where minorities are victims of crime at a much higher rate.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by G-Dale

Howard Beach is much less racist than the neighboring black and brown neighborhoods where minorities are victims of crime at a much higher rate.

You can say that again.

[citylove101]

Originally Posted by G-Dale

Howard Beach is much less racist than the neighboring black and brown neighborhoods where minorities are victims of crime at a much higher rate.

Your answer, of course, says nothing about Howard Beach.

But a lot about Ridgewood Queens