It is not a novel idea that communities change over time. Every community goes through its own unique change that requires its own analysis. Christopher Mele lays out the facts about the Lower East Side and the “downward spiral” that occurred. The prevalence of violence, muggings, stabbings, and theft increased in the 1950s. Gangs developed and there was a rise of juvenile delinquency. The old timers were disturbed and afraid and began staying at home more often than they went out to evening social events. This impossible fusion of the old and new created a difficult community. The older people were not pleased, to say the least, with the new communities of Puerto Ricans or African Americans. They held themselves to a higher standard and looked down on the minorities. One old-timer expressed his resentment towards the new community – “Compared to the Puerto Ricans and Negroes, did we ever get such god places to live when we first came to New York?”(136). The older generation felt that they were more successful in better times, with worse conditions.
Though the resentment is understandable, it is unfortunate. The older community should have felt proud of their achievements and used their abilities, stores, and shops to help out the new immigrants. I realize how improbable such a situation would be and am left thinking of John Lennon’s idealistic but unrealistic song “Imagine.” Had all the immigrants, new and old joined together in one force instead of distancing themselves from each other and looking down on each other, its likely that the Lower East Side in the 1950s and 60s could have been a better place. There may have been “No need for greed or hunger…Imagine all the people sharing all the world”. The impossibility of such a situation goes back to a discussion we had early about the idea of assimilating. Many new immigrants did not want to completely assimilate and remove their past identity to take on a new “American” one. Had all immigrants wanted to shed any past identity then perhaps a more unified “American” city could have existed. But then, the rich history and culture would have been sorely missed. The immigration of new minorities into a city of older immigrants is bound to create resentment and bitterness. Unless of course, you Imagine.
