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I'm up in Willie's Steakhouse (Bronx), and this very nice, young Japanese woman is in the house, watching the latin jazz band. I'm there listening, watching as well, plus watching the Yanks on the big screen. We strike up a conversation.
Woman: So, do you like the area?
Me: I happened to like the area, although I've been here only a month.
Woman (looking at the screen): You're watching the game?
Me: Yeah.
Woman: Tell me, are the Yankees in the Bronx.
Me: Yes, they are!
Woman: Is that the one with Matsui?
Me: Yep!
Woman: Yaaaaaay, go Yankees! (claps hands).
The woman (a real real sweetheart, too!) reminded me of something.....even when neighborhoods like Harlem and the Bronx went through the crack epidemic, them Japanese tours were not afraid to visit the hood, and may have been among the first tour groups to do so. A lot of times it was to visit Harlem's Black churches. When Gray Line wouldn't touch Harlem, those Japanese groups would visit Abyssinian Baptist, to get the "Black worship experience".
When I took music classes at Jazzmobile Harlem (PS 127? Across from Schomberg), Japanese film crews would come up on the regular to film the classes.
Because some people realize that even though you're in a "dangerous" area, it doesn't mean you're gonna get raped, robbed, or killed (maybe all three). It's all a numbers game. Right now we got a creep grabbing and fondling women out in the East Village. You will think something like this will happen out in Castle Hill. Not the trendy East Village!
A sicko sexually assaulted a little girl in Borough Park in Brooklyn. Most people think things like this happen only in places like Harlem, Far Roc, or Soundview. Crime is everywhere! From the UES, to Cooper Projects in Williamsburg. Crime is all over the place.
Because some people realize that even though you're in a "dangerous" area, it doesn't mean you're gonna get raped, robbed, or killed (maybe all three). It's all a numbers game. Right now we got a creep grabbing and fondling women out in the East Village. You will think something like this will happen out in Castle Hill. Not the trendy East Village!
A sicko sexually assaulted a little girl in Borough Park in Brooklyn. Most people think things like this happen only in places like Harlem, Far Roc, or Soundview. Crime is everywhere! From the UES, to Cooper Projects in Williamsburg. Crime is all over the place.
all true, but crime is more prevelant in low income, bad parts of the city.
your odds of being a victim change as you go from "good" areas to "bad" ones
also, it's a world of difference to visit an area than to live there. i visited albania. nothing bad happened to me. but, it's a mob-run, crime-filled, warzone. it would take a lot to convince me to live there. just b/c a japanese tourist visits a landmark steakhouse in the bx (many wealthy people go to willie's) and demonstrates some grossly ignorant euphoria for the local team does not mean that the area is nice, good, safe, etc.
also, it's a world of difference to visit an area than to live there. i visited albania. nothing bad happened to me. but, it's a mob-run, crime-filled, warzone. it would take a lot to convince me to live there. just b/c a japanese tourist visits a landmark steakhouse in the bx (many wealthy people go to willie's) and demonstrates some grossly ignorant euphoria for the local team does not mean that the area is nice, good, safe, etc.
True about differences between visitation and living. But I wonder if some people at Gray Line back in the day had any fears about gettin' bum-rushed in Harlem if they even visited there and got off the bus?
I used to live in Queens and I remember that my parents were dead set against letting us go out (alone) to certain areas of Brooklyn or the Bronx to visit friends (we were teenageers at the time). I think part of the reason for the 'no fear' mentality of some people IS ignorance. People tend to get a glamourized view of the U.S. (especially foreigners viewing western society) so I don't think they had anything to compare it to. I loved growing up in NY and being exposed to various cultures and experiences that I could never get anywhere else. But I'm also wise enough to know that I'm not going to walk home alone at 2am from a party or after going to a club or whatever.
Not me though, I don't enjoy others misfortune. While it's all a big game to some (BULD MORE! MORE STORES! MORE GENTRIFICATION!), the reality for others is struggle. Nothing gets better for these people.
Scatman, you don't use your head. You yell, "WOW A NICE STORE IN BED-STUY" but you don't think of the consequences. As an area improves those who can't afford it get pushed out. It goes from a Black hood with a lot of history to getting the mat pulled out from under our feet. In other words, White and expensive. GOOD JOB.
Last edited by Hustla718; 07-19-2007 at 04:24 PM..
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