In The World in a City Berger talks about the diverse neighborhood that is Ditmas Park in Brooklyn.  What I found very interesting about this excerpt is that the people of this area are described as close friends and distant neighbors.  Berger begins by saying that Americans, especially in New York, are mixing and are more willing to get along with each other.  He describes Ditmas Park as an area where no one ethnic or racial group is dominant, and he says the people in this neighborhood are interwoven.  People move to this neighborhood expecting diversity.  You can walk down the street and see people of various different cultures.  I like how many of the people described in this excerpt say that their closes friend is someone of a different background.  This embraces the diversity that is ever so present in New York, and it shows that despite differences people can learn to communicate and work together whether it be at a community event in Ditmas Park or a large scale UN meeting in Manhattan.

The other aspect of Berger’s piece is that despite this rich diversity and seeming cooperation and friendship there is still a risk of separation and distrust.  Berger describes a split between people of different economic standing which often translates into racial separation.  People who rent apartments are less likely to be friends with homeowners.  He also included a statement from Pitzele, a history teacher, saying that the people are cohabiting not melting and that they are more friendly with people of their own ethnicity and social class.  Still, people in Ditmas Park seem to be putting in the effort with community plays, food events, and more making it seem, overall, like a friendly melting pot.