Who owns what neighborhood?

WhyFi said:

About 50% of the people in my building are Black. All of the people in my building are in the same socioeconomic ballpark - certainly above average on the block. By your logic, my Black neighbors are not gentrifiers, while the non-Blacks are? How does this make sense?

So you want a trophy because you live in a building with Black people?

No, I want you to explain the logic of your statement that Black people cannot be gentrifiers.

Black people do not push other Black people out nor look at them as an "element" they want out of their community. White people, once they get fixated on an area want it all to themselves. IE williamsburg, fort greene, park slope, boerum hill. Big difference. Black people are allowed to have money too you know.

nofay said:

Black people do not push other Black people out nor look at them as an "element" they want out of their community. White people, once they get fixated on an area want it all to themselves. IE williamsburg, fort greene, park slope, boerum hill. Big difference. Black people are allowed to have money too you know.

My Black neighbors didn't move in with existing tenants - they moved in to empty apartments, just as my non-Black neighbors did - how is one not pushing out Blacks while the other is?

Do you feel that only (what you would consider) Black neighborhoods can experience gentrification? What about poor Latino communities? Poor White communities? Poor Asian communities?

All but poor white.

nofay said:

All but poor white.

And my first question?

WhyFi said:

My Black neighbors didn't move in with existing tenants - they moved in to empty apartments, just as my non-Black neighbors did - how is one not pushing out Blacks while the other is?

And so???

nofay said:

And so???

You're not answering the question - how is one displacing a Black family when the other is not?

Black people support each other and live in somewhat of harmony regardless of economic differences. The way you are describing it, sounds like said building was cleared out by the developer.

I think the point that everyone is missing is the power of green. It is not about white, black, yellow, etc. He who has the dollars controls the neighborhood.

If housing has been neglected - or deemed no longer desirable by one group (i.e., manufacturing jobs have been relocated) the "better the bang for the buck". It is not a phenomena just related to predominantly all black communities. Nor is it just white pushing out the black.

Borough Park was previously white and has become a Hasidic (white) enclave. Why? Hasidics have large families and require the space afforded by the old, large victorians. The sellers (most probably Italians) have families that have shrunk in size and have relocated to NJ suburbia (the American hype of a McMansion and an SUV). Brighton Beach was white and has been a white Russian enclave for MANY years. Sunset Park was white Scandinavian and now is a combination of Hispanic, Asian and "returning" white. Same for Carroll Gardens. Same for Fort Greene.

It is all cyclical.

If someone starts a collection to repatriate nofay to Africa, I will cheerfully contribute, even though my (white, poor, European) ancestors had exactly nothing to do with his presence here.

I don't want anyone to be where they're not happy.

Bad analogy. White is white in amerikkka. Try again.

nofay said:

Black people support each other and live in somewhat of harmony regardless of economic differences. The way you are describing it, sounds like said building was cleared out by the developer.

Really? I thought that Black-on-Black crime was a big issue in the community.

Back to the off-topic - summary of your opinion thus far:

*Blacks are incapable of being gentrifiers.

*White communities, no matter how poor, are incapable of being gentrified.

*All races, with the exception of White folk, are subject to gentrification.

Question - can other races, besides Blacks, be gentrifiers? Or can only Whites be gentrifiers?

Sorry Nofay - I don't care what support system is in place in ANY neighborhood, a home owner will try to realize the highest price possible regardless of what neighbors he leaves behind. An apartment will be rented to the renter willing to pay the highest price.

eastbloc said:

If someone starts a collection to repatriate nofay to Africa, I will cheerfully contribute, even though my (white, poor, European) ancestors had exactly nothing to do with his presence here.

I don't want anyone to be where they're not happy.

Ok I never understood why eastern europeans are like the niggas of white people when they are actually the whitest ones. Why is this? But also why are they so racist? I have been beaten with a baseball bat in greenpoint for no other reason than just being there yet western europeans view you the same so wtf!?!?