A few weeks ago in class, we were assigned a reading, “Characteristics of Third Places” by Ray Oldenburg. The major issues I found with that reading were the lack of examples of so-called “third places”, and the utopian nature of the places, which made me feel that such things don’t exist. The articles this week, however, were different in that they provided a realistic view of the neighborhoods, with varying perspectives. Suketu Mehta’s “The Meltingest Pot” features the inhabitants of Calloway Château and their diversity. What makes this story more interesting for me is the specific examples of interactions that people have on a daily basis. The author interviews residents and shares glimpses of their lives with the readers. In addition, the article narrates all types of relationships between people of different races- whether they’re positive or negative. It is obvious that people don’t get along all the time, which is why is it unrealistic to portray a diverse neighborhood as one where there is not tension. For example, Mehta mentions Orlando and his reluctance to eat the ethnic food many people give him. He doubts the cleanliness of the offerings. Other than that, the author speaks of the Bukharan grandmothers and their discontent with the Latinos because of their dressing. Along with the negatives, Mehta presents a plethora of positive relationships within this community, ranging from helping each other with money to arranging a safe trip for a Jewish family in a Muslim country.
Ellick’s article, “In Queens: A Melting Pot, and a Closed Book”, also provided me with another perspective when looking at the interactions he had with people of different ethnic backgrounds. His article, however, dealt primarily with the unwillingness of people to communicate with him because he was white. It painted a dim picture of dissension and fear that comes along with not trusting someone outside of your group. Maybe if he had wanted more success with interacting with others, he should have showed his desire to connect more. Maybe he wasn’t showing his enthusiasm to interact as much as he thought he was. Even then, I don’t know if the others would have been more inclined to get along.
