Lisa Wong

Lisa Wong

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Harlem Tour

0
10 years
by in Neighborhood Visits

Last Friday, I was far from excited about going on a tour around Harlem that did not involve food. Although the tour was certainly not delicious, it was filling in other ways. When I got off at the 135th street station for the 3 train, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Harlem was not such a “shady” neighborhood. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture that the tour began at looked to be in pretty good shape and so did the other buildings in the area.

Our extremely enthusiastic tour guide gave us an in-depth look at the history of Harlem. In particular, I remember the site of what used to be the Lafayette Theater. It opened in November 1912 and was one of Harlemn’s best known buildings. However, it is sadly soon to be the site of rental apartments.This reminded me of Spike Lee’s rant against gentrification in New York City. I generally like the idea of new and pristine buildings, but is it really worth it if these signs of wealth are knocking down our history?

The pricey townhouses with the roads in between them were definitely objects of envy. This tour helped me rediscover my appreciation for beautiful architecture. The previously dreary look of the Gothic architecture of City College actually looked quite beautiful in light of the history behind it (and the sun). The Manhattan schist that is seen on the streets of the city is the same schist that builds up our buildings.
Undoubtably, Harlem is a neighborhood that is filled with culture, but I also came across many pleasant sights that one can appreciate on a light stroll.

A Closer Look at Bangladesh

0
10 years
by in Immigration Stories

As I waited outside the exhibition venue, it occurred to me that despite my numerous visits to art museums, I did not recall any Bangladeshi photography.

“Eyes on Bangladesh” consists of photographs that serve as gateways for a more personal look at Bangladeshi culture. Behind each photograph is information that gives audiences insight on what Bangladesh is like. For instance, Shumon Ahmed’s rather personal look at his past allowed me to see the lack of health awareness that can be found in Bangladesh. The way that he harassed his ill mother illustrated this lack of awareness rather poignantly.

A particular composition that stood out to me was Jannatul Mawa’s series of photographs of the matriarchs and maids of various households being seated at the same couch. The idea of having a maid is something very bizarre for someone who was raised in New York. However, despite my lack of exposure to such a concept, this series quickly gave me an intimate feel for what the situation is like in Bangladesh. The awkwardness and rigidity seen in an older generation of maids as opposed to the more lax and natural composure seen in a younger one showed that such a black and white concept was changing with the times. Personal stories about servants being yelled at and treated like garbage as opposed to stories about main families providing funds for servant families to go to college helped illustrate opposite ends of the situation.

Ultimately, this exhibition was greatly enhanced by the stories behind the photographs. There are various series that help paint the joys and struggles of the people of Bangladesh, but most importantly and most simply: a picture.

The Golden Venture

0
10 years
by in Immigration Stories

Laws exist for good reason. Without the punishment that comes with breaking them, our society would have no order. Logically, there is not a doubt in my mind that laws are a necessary force. However, The Golden Venture has created in me support for undocumented immigrants. Hearing the weakness in these immigrant’s voices and the monotony that awaited them made me understand why Jeff Lobach, Craig Trebilcock, Beverly Church spoke on behalf of these human beings. Some may argue that the film is biased towards undocumented immigrants, as it is very personal in nature. But I feel that for an issue involving the lives of real human beings, the humanization seen in the film is necessary. If we do not know about them, then how can we possibly judge them?

The filmmakers were aiming for sympathy, and they did not fail. Thinking of how these fathers, mothers, and teenagers were separated from their families for so long was rather heartbreaking. Some men simply aged too much during their incarceration to start anew after they were released. Even those that did find jobs were left with low wages and long hours. Was the weight of their unlawful trespassing really equivalent to a life of adversity?

Although having compassion for your fellow man is never a bad thing, I feel that the filmmakers could have included more than narrative and interviews. Giving a larger scope that included the legal matters of the situation would have been helpful. The statistics at the end of the film made me curious as to how those thirty-five individuals received asylum, or how those two people received artist’s visas. Also, how were the undocumented immigrants simply held in jail for nearly four years? In providing more information about these matters, the public can gain a better understanding of what should have been done then and what to do in the future.

Understanding New York

0
10 years
by in Census Data

Most striking about Mr. Salvo’s presentation was the population that not just New York City makes up, but each of its boroughs make up in comparison to the rest of the country. All the attention that both New Yorkers and the rest of the world places on this city now seems more reasonable.

Another interesting concept that Mr. Salvo spoke of was this constant process of immigrants leaving New York City as more come into it. This gap between proficient and non-proficient English speakers can now be understood as a result of constant shifts in New York City’s immigrants and not because of a lack of effort.

On a more inquisitive note, I can’t help but wonder if the ‘energy’ that Mr. Salvo sees in the city will continue to grow. As more people from within the country are moving to New York City, instead of immigrants, I see less diversity. I see less drive in the work force and less change because of the resulting lack of (new) interactions.

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