JACKSON HEIGHTS
The Atlantis within New York City
“Seventy-fourth Street, Roosevelt”, the train conductor announces. You quickly gather your belongings and prepare for the coming stampede at the train station. The entire world seems to get off at this one stop and you wonder why. The platform overflows with people much like when too much water is poured into a cup, creating a flimsy dome. Shakily taking your first step out of the train, you stand in the middle of the platform – unsure and excited of the new world around you. People of countless different ethnic backgrounds – South American, white, black, Asian, etc. surround you. And suddenly, you begin to realize: no longer are you at the center of the platform – you are at the center of the world. You are the historian and Jackson Heights is the Atlantis waiting to be uncovered.
The 7 Train. Many dub this train as “The Oriental Express” because it runs through neighborhoods of countless ethnic influences.
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood most famous for its cultural diversity, with many often citing it as the most culturally diverse neighborhood on the planet. Almost immediately after stepping out of the 74th Street station, people often encounter a hodgepodge of not just people, but of food, style, culture, etc – a melting pot (both literally and metaphorically!) We find Indian restaurants next to Mexican restaurants next to Chinese Restaurants next to Cuban Restaurants, and the list keeps on going. In Jackson Heights, just remember the motto:
whatever you’re in the mood for, its right next door.
Our group was curious of the history of Jackson Heights and how the cultures of the neighborhood collided. How did such an amalgam come about? Was the neighborhood always like this? If not, what was this neighborhood like a few years back? If a person’s diet often reflects his/her culture, what were the foods available in the area?
These were the questions we were determined to answer, and on that note, the story unravels.
– Chapter One –
The First Step
– Chapter Two –
The Story Untold
– Chapter Three –
The Cultural Mélange
