As I walked through Coney Island, I felt at home again. Growing up in Coney Island allowed my childhood to be engulfed in culture, color, and exploration. Everywhere you look, whether you are on the boardwalk, on the streets where the old freak show used to be, or where the first Nathan’s still stands, you will see splashes of color strewed across old amusement park rides, carnival-style food stands, or murals, painted by those that have a profound love for the neighborhood. But one piece of art really spoke to me, the one pictured above. A wall titled “Faces of Coney” presented pictures of people from all different cultures and backgrounds that were either visiting Coney Island or called Coney Island their home. Unfortunately, may of the pictures were ripped off, however the ones still standing reminded me of the richness of Coney Island’s culture. Walking the boardwalk hundreds of times in my life, I remember seeing people of all races, from different cultures, speaking a vast amount of languages. To those visiting Coney for the first time, it is spectacular, with the grand Wonder Wheel or its spectacular beaches filled with joyous friends and family in the summertime. Elderly people come to chat, as they sit on benches and look out into the glittering ocean. Children come to enjoy the rides. Young adults enjoy the nightlife of Coney, especially in the summer. People from all different backgrounds come to jog or just stroll along the boardwalk, enjoying the beautiful and eccentric scenery along the way. The diversity of Coney Island’s activities reflects the diversity of the people that visit. This picture encompasses the memories that people all over the world have shared at Coney Island, and represents the continuous influx of cultures that flows into Coney, leaving it’s everlasting mark for future visitors to see.
