As basically everyone has mentioned previously, this week’s reading were centered on the idea of conflict. More specifically, these conflicts were based on race or ethnicity. In the Rieder article, Jews and Blacks especially are noted to have been casted aside in neighborhoods such as Canarsie. Brownsville Brooklyn discusses the abuse felt by Blacks. Either way, these racial tensions, at times, erupted into violence and severe conflict. The Italians and Whites wanted to reserve the territory only for Whites.
Rieder discusses the efforts made by each racial group to keep others out of the neighborhoods. People would publicly list their house as “For Sale,” but then not agree to sell to anyone who wasn’t like them. Many Italians were opposed to the maintenance of an eruv in Canarsie, for fear that it would attract more Orthodox Jews. Although Alexa argues that conflict such as those described in the readings don’t currently exist, arguments over the constructing of eruvs are continuously occurring, even in locations as close to New York City, as communities on Long Island.
As multiple people have noted, and as discussed in Brownsville Brooklyn, President Johnson worked to end the poverty struggle in New York City. As a result of this economic reform, the government hoped racial tension would subside since economic worries and tension would no longer exist. Still, however, people felt ethnic pride towards their races and racial tensions continued to exist. The constant fear of gangs was present in schools and on the streets, and many gang conflicts had their roots in ethnic conflicts. As an aside, this gang conflict can be seen vividly in the movie West Side Story.
Anyway, I’ll have to disagree with Alexa when she says that these conflicts don’t exist anymore, and agree with everyone who expresses hope for the future. People say this generation is the most accepting yet, and I hope that people continue to become more accepting and tolerant. The violence in neighborhoods like Brownsville is unnecessary and needs to end before world peace can be achieved.
