Development
From Seminar 2: The Peopling of New York City
Contents |
Introduction to Community Development
Community development is a crucial aspect of any immigrant community. Organizations, people, and political leaders seeking to make their community into an economically, socially, and politically viable area of interest must push for such developments. For our project, we looked at the importance of community development and different factors that facilitate it.
This group project analyzes the ways in which West Indians in Flatbush, Brooklyn communicate ideas leading to community development. Our research draws upon concepts in class readings, as well as interviews and participant observation in Flatbush. With a running thread of analysis from an anthropological and sociological point of view, the four individual topics focuses on: 1. Political Involvement and Community Centers, 2. Media Communication, 3. Church Involvement, 4. Music and Community Development.
Political Involvement and Community Centers
Stephen Ma
I explored community development in Flatbush, Brooklyn and how transnationalism plays a major role in the lives of West Indian immigrants. I looked at the political agendas of several political figures who are Caribbean-born or of Caribbean descent, such as Assemblyman Nick Perry. In addition, I examined various community institutions, such as Sesame Flyers International. In examining the community centers, I focused on the learning material being taught to second generation Caribbean children and how this material reinforces Caribbean cultures and traditions back home. My research draws upon literature on politics in the Caribbean and transnationalism. In addition, I am in the process of interviewing the local politicians and have conducted participant observation in Sesame Flyers in order to get a more in depth look at the community issues. Ultimately, I aim to show the influence of the Caribbean on West Indians in the Flatbush area and how West Indians in New York City balance their American lifestyles with their Caribbean backgrounds.
Media Communication
Jean Metauten
I will examine how West Indians in New York City utilize the media to communicate with each other. Specifically, I will analyze local newspapers and radio stations to see which ideas or issues are most important to the West Indian community in New York. I have already visited Flatbush, New York, and observed where newspapers are and how people take notice of them. My research will include hands-on experience in visiting West Indian neighborhoods like Flatbush to collect newspapers for study. I will interview as many West Indian New Yorkers as possible. It is important to understand what the everyday issues of local people are and if the media are accurately communicating those ideas.
Church Involvement
Roberth Mendoza
I looked into how the Christian Churches in the West Indian neighborhood in Brooklyn brings about a unity between the people of different West Indian countries. The following church activities for community unity were studied: the way in which the sermons have evolved to appeal to the attendees and the practices in their home country, the merging together of the practices at the home countries to form a new and enjoyable experience of attending church and how each one of the attendees feel like they belong. My research was mostly of ethnographic origin, I interviewed church attendees and pastors. With the pastors I was be able to investigate what had in the church changed to be better able to appeal to the West Indian people. With the church attendees I was able to see how it is that they feel towards each other and towards different West Indian countries. How church has changed their opinions and helped them form new bonds with people from other countries in the West Indies. The pastors and the mass will be useful to investigate in what way church is different from their home country. Academic research was done to understand how religion affected the development of West Indian countries.
Music and Community Development
Zoe Spanos
This site focuses on West Indian cultural expression through different music genres that have developed throughout colonialization. I have examined the impact West Indian singers, and transnational traditions have had on community development both in New York and abroad. Additionally, I have looked at the change of music’s subject matter over the generations and addressed the future of such an important West Indian cultural element. Most of my research has come from literature on transnationalism and ethnomusicology. I have also used information gathered through interviews with first generation migrants and second generation young adults living in New York, as well as data from youth organizations such as Sesame Flyers, located in Flatbush, Brooklyn.