From The Peopling of New York City
Mango Lassi Ice-cream
saris, yellow gold, and Bhangra CDs, make this area easily distinguishable from the neighboring Spanish and Asian clusters of Queens. I noticed that markets sell produce and spices targeting Indian cuisine, and services, such as palmistry, targeting the Indian-American population. This feature, of an ethnic community catering to the needs of co-ethnics, carries over to any other ethnic community in New York City. Walking the streets, I couldn't help compare Jackson Heights with Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the mainly Polish community I grew up in, and Flushing Queens, the largely Chinese area I spent much time around. Although all three communities are changing at a steady rate, they still house a population of first generation immigrants who find comfort in the presence of co-ethnic neighbors, supermarkets, and cultural events.
While the Polish neighborhood of Greenpoint feels like home to me because of my Polish background, Jackson Heights continues to hold a sense of exoticism in my eyes. From the unfamiliar vegetables, to the sparkly wedding attire, it is always interesting to explore another culture interactively. The sense of “community” in Jackson Heights is visible through the publication of neighborhood newspapers, and Indian-American networks that aid new immigrants through housing, work, and their general establishment.
Walking around, it came to my attention for the first time that this neighborhood is not only home to Hindus from India, but also to Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan. This conflict of religion reflects the juxtaposition of Ganesh statues in jewelry store windows, and Qu-ran texts sold on tables lining the sidewalks. Although the presence of Hindu deity and tradition dominates the streets, walking around, I saw various reminders of an Islamic belief system and culture present among the Jackson Heights population.
An interesting observation that I could not overlook was the overpowering depiction of the “perfect woman” as represented by many Jackson Heights industries. The jewelry, film, and music businesses, in specific, displayed prominently slim, lighter-skinned woman, with young, innocent faces, and seductive eyes. Judgin by the advertisements, lighter eyes (blue or green), in particular, seem to be of exceptional value in South Asian culture. It seems as if there is a battle between conservatism/chastity and sex appeal in Bollywood productions, based on the films and posters. Additionally, the importance of gold and jewels in Indian culture, which mainly the women wear, places a strong emphasis on feminine sacredness, beauty, and delicacy.
