Economy and Labor

19th Century Labor

The African Americans who lived in Five Points faced the same sort of prejudice in the workplace that they did in the tenements. 40% of Five Points American-born men who were unskilled were African Americans.¹  Discrimination confined African Americans to menial jobs such as chimney sweep, barber, sailor and street peddler. Even within these fields, African American men were forced into the least lucrative work. For example, among street peddlers, blacks sold unessential goods such as buttermilk and straw for beddings, earning revenue nowhere near their Jewish counterparts.² The minuscule wages perpetuated a cycle of inferior social status and constant poverty.³ 

Present Day

As of the 1990’s, almost a third of New York City’s black population was foreign born.⁴ Immigrants from Jamaica and other West Indian nations have arrived in great numbers and made a significant impact on the New York City economy and the Lower East Side itself.

Mr. Sean Jean, a Jamaican immigrant, has made a significant impact on the Lower East Side economy. In 2008, he opened Spur Tree Lounge on 76 Orchard Street. The restaurant has a Jamaican-Asian fusion menu that blends Mr. John’s traditional family recipes with Asian cuisines that he’s picked up over the years during his trips to Asia. The restaurant features reggae music and Jamaican artwork that give the venue a true ethnic feel.⁵ John’s business is an up and coming hotspot on the Lower East Side, recently named by MACY’s Culinary Council as one of New York City’s hottest restaurants in 2011.⁶

Recently, we had the opportunity to interview Mr. John and ask him about his experience on the Lower East Side:

Click here to to learn more about Spur Tree Lounge

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