In general, gentrification is good for the black community but if you add the description "respectful gentrification" to the mix, I'm definitely down with the concept.By respectful gentrification I mean community change does not come like an invading army. I mean change that isn't rooted solely in the desire to make a quick buck - change that doesn't radically upset the racial identity of the neighborhood.
I admit I am conflicted by the question of what happens to the folks forced to move out when property values rise above their means. But overall, gentrification can bring fresh new perspectives to different groups, it can bring neighborhood improvements.
In short, it brings understanding and that is always a good thing. ...
Our president took a sovereign nation and turned it into a leaderless powder keg where century-old hostilities are played out on the streets, and foreign agitators do their best to keep the violence and instability at high levels.
So while nothing would feel better than to throw our hands up, wave goodbye to Iraq and send those soldiers to Afghanistan where they should have been deployed in greater numbers to begin with, we simply can't do it.
Not if we are going to at least try to live up to the ideals we preach around the world.
About the only intelligent strategy employed by the Bush government during the five years of fighting was the rapid deployment of personnel in the surge strategy. Overwhelming the enemy with people on the ground, as well as using covert operations to target insurgents, has reduced the level of violence and influence of militant groups.
I don't see a downside to the concept of someone with greater wealth seeking to live next door to me. I'm sure I could learn something from them and I am damn sure I will teach them about me and the community I call home.
Having spent my early years on 108th Street and 2nd Ave. in New York (Spanish Harlem) which has seen waves of gentrification over the years, I've always been puzzled by the arguments of black preservationists stuck in a time warp arguing against neighborhood change.
"The white folks are taking over Harlem," is their common refrain. Not everybody welcomed Bill Clinton when he moved there when his White House days were over.
They like to talk about the good old days when the community was all black, or all Spanish or whatever. I would ask them to be honest and ask themselves, were the old days really all that good?
When new, more affluent neighbors move in and bring their coffee shops, cafes, restaurants and other shops, the neighborhood can't help but perk up. Local people get work. People sweep up their sidewalks a little more often.
In general, community improvement nudges local people to do a little better, to step up and be part of the change.
Here in Washington D.C., the gentrification of some neighborhoods in the Petworth community near Howard University and at the city's historical black belt along 14th and U Streets NW has been startling.
An uncommon sight just a few years ago, one sees groups of young white professionals stroll along Georgia Ave. or biking to and from work.
This is not to say these changes always happen without conflict. A black friend of mine who lives blocks from the Howard University campus complains that many of his new white female neighbors don't pick up after their dogs. He is very careful to emphasize they are white.
Well enough. I'm not sure if I would make the great racial case of the century based on a few sloppy newcomers. Does it help the situation to sit and stew over it in silence?
Simply remind the new neighbors that it's illegal not to clean up after your dog and you would appreciate it if they follow the law. At least give them the chance to do the right thing.
_________________
Paul Shepard blogs the Democrat side of the election for BlackVoices. He has been a journalist for 16 years; on the national urban/minority affairs beat for The Cleveland Plain Dealer and for The AP in Washington, D.C.
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By: Power Cord on 11/01/2008 8:29AM
I should have known that the Democratic side would be more pro gentrification than the Republican one.
Where's the talk about COMMUNITY development, over and against ECONOMIC development?
You pretty much gloss and sheen over things here.
"In general, community improvement nudges local people to do a little better, to step up and be part of the change."
Sorry, that just does not reflect what I see going on in Washington, DC.
Gentrification is enormously de-stabilizing. There are ways of uplift without downright economic exploitation.
It is a shame that those ways are rarely advocated for or pursued.
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By: Power Cord on 11/01/2008 8:31AM
I should have known that the Democratic side would be more pro gentrification than the Republican one.
Where's the talk about COMMUNITY development, over and against ECONOMIC development?
You pretty much gloss and sheen over things here.
"In general, community improvement nudges local people to do a little better, to step up and be part of the change."
Sorry, that just does not reflect what I see going on in Washington, DC.
Gentrification is enormously de-stabilizing. There are ways of uplift without downright economic exploitation.
It is a shame that those ways are rarely advocated for or pursued.
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By: Arnospenc on 11/01/2008 3:19PM
I have to admit that a lot of gentry are not freindly and will not even look you in the eye.They walk around with vicious dogs and many of them expose our youth to guns, drugs and voilence.Some gentry become teachers and psychologically abuse the youth with their sterotypical preconceptions.Self - hatred and anger builds over time from this abuse and black on black voilence. Then their is the gentry that with the help of the state,they adopt or foster Black youth.I have seen public ads with pitures of white gay men with a young black female.When is the last time you have seen Blacks adopting whites?
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By: John on 11/02/2008 12:59PM
BO acceptance speech. if he were truthful.
To all my faithful ACORN workers out there posting on my behalf, I bring you greetings from I, the anointed one, and Reverend Wright, who reminds you to "god damn America". You have succeeded in your goal to make anyone who might have voted, for someone other than Me, feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system, that they are willing to let go of the past, and change the future for our new socialist government. You have Bashed them relentlessly as we continued to cover up the truth at our end.
But now that the election is over, I would like to thank my good friends and co-conspirators in the congress, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd for there masterful manipulation and timely collapse of Fannie and Freddy. We desperately needed to keep the public from looking into my past associations, and get the attention of the middle class by emptying their 401K retirement accounts.
Barney and Chris accomplished both with of these goals unbelievably well. This gave us the largest segment of voting people, feeling defeated, and lost with little hope for the future, and ripe for my socialist message of redistribution of wealth. Little do they know, the bail out money, (there tax dollars), is going to pay the loans of those people who we tricked into thinking they could afford a house with our irresponsible lending laws. Now that's what I call redistribution of wealth!
I have been assured that the tape of me toasting PLO terrorists, with Khalidi, will never be made public. I mean, after they vowed death to Israel, it could have been embarrassing to my campaign if I was seen partying with them. But, this is an example of a damn fine all American communistic news paper, that knows how to hide the truth, and has my total support.
Recently, a few news papers have endorsed our enemy, (New York Post endorses McCain Palin) but we have stayed true to the teachings of our great founding father, Saul Alinsky, and these papers will be dealt with accordingly.
On another note, if anyone needs a home, I will soon be pardoning my friend Tony Resco, who then will be free to continue his slum lord practice of sub standard homes at inflated prices.
Now, I know he gave me a good deal on my house, but you have to understand, we Democrats have already bankrupted the country by failing to regulate the banks, but as you now know, that was part of the plan for the past two years. So there isn't much to go around. But not to worry, I promise to consistently and periodically raise your taxes until I and my friends, have enough, or, all of everything you have now. Then, and only then, will I stop thinking about you.
And finally, you may have noticed that my running mate Joe do my Bidin, has not been speaking lately, this is because we have found he has been working secretly against us and voted for, "The Other One" and the "sexy chic", as Bill C. refers to her. He has been silenced. Let this be a warning to all of you, because you are all, "Joe the Plumber to me".
I have decided instead of sending a check to those people that don't work, I will instead send a CD of the young children singing to me (COD of course) and keep the tax money for myself. After all, I am better qualified to spend it for you. The Change we need people. Now we are about to FUNDAMENTALLY change America.
Please feel free to copy/paste this to other sites
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By: Antonio on 11/02/2008 3:17PM
THERE GOES AOL AGAIN WITH ITS RIGHT WING AGENDA, EXCUSING the destruction of people and families, and using a Black surrogate to push their ideas. Hugo Chavez in Venezuela is gentrifying the slums, making beautiful new houses out of former shacks FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WLREADY LIVE THERE. Their rents dont go up, they receive title to the house, and get all services such as water and electricty. Americans think nothing of soullessly evicting people, because, under capitalism, if you have money, you can live, if you dont, you can die. PS- I doubt if there are any Spaniards in Harlem. Those people are Latin Americans. They are not from Spain and never have been. Adding ignorance to insult.
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By: Emma Carter Brooks on 11/02/2008 6:50PM
Seven Reasons to Vote Republican and One to Say "Not This Time"
1. I consider myself rich and well off. I don't need anyone to spread my wealth around. Let the poor, the homeless and the jobless fend for themselves.
2. I would rather see a white man and a white woman in the White House. I don't care if she's not qualified.
3. Obama speaks eloquently, but he is still Black.
4. My parents and grandparents taught me to look down on people of color, not up.
5. George Bush and the Republican Party have served me well. I want to keep my tax cuts. Forget about the middle class, they're not my problem.
6. I'm not my brother's keeper, that's Obama's job.
7. The Republican Party is for the rich, the well to do, and the racist.
After reviewing my reasons for voting Republican, I've decided not to. A nation divided cannot stand. We are one nation and we all rise and fall together. I'm voting for the party that wants to unite all of us. Whether we be Black, White, Asian, Latino, Native American, Gay, Straight, Rich, Poor or Disabled. A party that believes in Christianity, but allows God to be the judge, not man.
Vote for Unity in America! Obama & Biden '08
We draw people to Christ by our love and tender kindness, not hate.
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
Peace my friends.
Pass this message on to all the Republicans you know.
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By: J on 11/02/2008 7:53PM
Ask the people who are no longer in their communities/neighborhoods due to outpricing and greed.
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By: olounwa on 11/03/2008 10:14PM
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE..?? OF COURSE GENTRIFICATION IS GOOD FOR BLACK NEIGHBOURHOODS!!. DUH! IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.! WHAT IS SOOO ROMANTIC ABOUT GUN CRIME AND ENDLESS VIOLENCE ?. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE SHOULD BE BLACK AREAS LIKE ENGLEWOOD AT ALL. WHY ARE BLACKS DETERMINED TO BE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING THEIR COLLECTIVE CONDITION?... AMERICAN THINKING IS FUNNY... WHY CLING TO THAT THAT DOES NOTHING FOR YOU.? THE MORE STARBUCKS COFFEE HOUSES, THE MORE RECLAIMED BUILDINGS, THE MORE URBAN EDUCATED WHO FILL THESE NEIGHBOURHOODS THE BETTER.. ITS TIME TO GROW UP...
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By: olounwa on 11/03/2008 10:16PM
ANTONIO, MOVE TO VENZUELA,,, AM SURE HUGO CHAVEZ OWES YOU A LIVING.. YAWN.....
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By: willie on 11/04/2008 3:29AM
I VOTE
FELLOW AMERICANS, THERES ISSUES AT HAND
THE QUESTION IS WHO, HAS THE BEST PLAN
THE TIME IS NOW, THE FUTURE DEPEND
ON EVERY DECISION, THAT’S MADE MY FRIEND
JUST KEEP IN MIND, I’M NO JOKE
I’M FULL OF POWER, MY NAME IS VOTE
I REPRESENT THE RICH, I’M FOR THE POOR
I’M THE ANSWER MANY, BEEN WAITING FOR
YOU SEE MANY PEOPLE, HAVE DIED FOR ME
I’M THE REASON, MANY ARE FREE
ALL YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR OPINION TOO
I’LL EXPRESS THEM, YOUR EVERY VIEW
I DON’T WAVIER, I’LL SERVE YOU TRUE
MY MAIN OBJECTIVE, IS TO IMPOWER YOU
LIKE MONEY IN A BANK I’LL WORK YOU SEE
FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE, ALL STARTS WITH ME
CITY OR COUNTY, FEDERAL OR STATE
I’M YOUR VOICE, I DON’T DESCRIMINATE
I WILL MAKE YOU, BE HEARD AFAR
FROM THE OVAL OFFICE, TO THE LOCAL BAR
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, THE PRESENT TOO
ALL WAIT ON ME, AS I WAIT ON YOU
REGARDLESS TO WHAT’S, ON THE AGENDA
I’LL PROTECT YOU, LIKE A PUBLIC DEFENDER
REMEMBER IF CHANGE, IS GONNA TAKE PLACE
A CHECK IS REQUIRED, I’LL PLEAD YOUR CASE
WHETHER DAY OR NIGHT, HOT OR COLD
YOU CAN FIND ME, AT ANY POLL
EITHER OBAMA OR MCAIN, YOU MAKE THE CHOICE
IF YA’LL ALLOW ME, I’LL LIFT YOUR VOICE
I’LL SOUND OUT LOUD, SO ALL CAN SAY
I SPOKE MY PEACE, AND I DID IT MAY WAY
SIGNED I VOTE
willie
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